Simone Biles was only 19 when she won her first Olympic gold medal. Now, at 27, she is poised to become one of the most decorated Olympians of all time. On Tuesday, July 30, Biles won her fifth gold medal in women’s gymnastics at the Paris Olympics, becoming the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history. This victory tops off an already fantastic career for Biles, earning her her eighth career podium visit overall.
Olympic history of longevity and greatness
Her first Olympic Games were in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 event. She took home five medals from Brazil, four of which were gold. That year, Biles won in the women’s team competition, the women’s all-around competition, the women’s vault, and the women’s floor exercise. She also took home a bronze medal for her routine in the women’s balance beam. With four gold medal wins, Simone Biles set a United States record for the most gold medals won in women’s gymnastics in a single Olympics.
Since then, the Ohio native has gone on to compete in both the Tokyo Games in 2021 and the Paris Olympics in 2024. In Tokyo, Biles once again won bronze for her balance beam routine, as well as a silver medal in the team competition. In Paris, Biles has won gold in the team competition so far, but there is still time for her to add more to her collection. Many thoroughly enjoy watching her incredible floor routine that won Team USA the gold, as it is a video that continues to garner daily views.
Simone Biles’ journey to Paris
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In 2021, Biles was famously sidelined after experiencing what is known as the “twisties,” an occurrence in which a gymnast loses their sense of where they are in the air and becomes out of sorts. The phenomenon is extremely dangerous for any gymnast, even those competing at the highest level. As a result, Biles withdrew from the rest of the events at the Tokyo Olympics in an effort to prioritize her mental health.
Now, in 2024, Biles is back for the Paris Olympics. At this year’s trials, the gymnast took first place overall in the all-around women’s gymnastics competition. Additionally, she also placed first on floor exercise, second on vault, and fourth on balance beam, and was selected to represent the United States along with Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera. Biles’ selection for the Paris Olympics makes her only one of four U.S. female gymnasts to compete at three Olympic Games. Others include Dominique Dawes, Muriel Grossfield, and Linda Metheny.
The Paris Olympics
On Tuesday, the world-renowned athlete competed for Team USA in the floor exercise. For her outstanding routine, she was awarded a score of 14.6 from the judges, placing first in the competition and solidifying a victory for the United States. For more on Biles’ record-breaking win on Tuesday, check out NPR’s coverage of the women’s gymnastics all-around event.
There’s still a lot more competition to go in Paris. According to CNN, Biles will compete four more times in Paris, with her appearances being as follows: Thursday, August 1, Saturday, August 3, and Monday, August 5. On Thursday, Biles will compete in the women’s all-around final, and on Saturday, she will compete in the women’s vault final. On Monday, Biles will compete in two events: the women’s balance beam final and the women’s floor exercise final.
All upcoming appearances provide Biles with more opportunities to win additional medals. But regardless of whether she wins or not, it’s safe to say Biles will go down in history as one of the greatest Olympians of all time. Tune in to women’s gymnastics this weekend to see if Biles can continue her record-breaking streak and cheer on Team USA as they continue the competition in the Paris Olympics.
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