Simone Biles

Biles at 2016 Olympics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Simone_Biles_at_the_2016_Olympics_all-around_gold_medal_podium_(28262782114).jpg

“A hero is someone who, in spite of weakness, doubt or not always knowing the answers, goes ahead and overcomes anyway” (Christopher Reeve). If you ask 100 people what a hero is to them, chances are you won’t get the same answer twice. To me, a hero is someone that decides to stay positive despite the struggles they have faced in their lives. They also look out for others and impact the world in a positive way. These traits can be seen in Simone Biles. 

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in the world and she has won 27 gold medals. Although Biles is successful, she has also definitely had her fair share of trauma. Growing up, Biles was put in foster care with her younger sister Adria because their mother struggled with substance abuse. For three years they bounced around different foster homes until their grandfather made the decision to adopt both Simone and Adria. After adoption the family moved from Ohio to Texas to restart their lives. 

One day Simone went on a field trip with her daycare to a gymnastics center. “While there I imitated the other gymnasts, and Coach Ronnie noticed. The gym sent home a letter requesting that I join tumbling or gymnastics.” After this, she took up the sport and started her elite career at the American Classic in Houston. She was just 14 and placed third all around. At 19 she went to her first Olympics and won four gold medals and a bronze medal. When asked how she is successful, Biles says it's a mix of talent, hard work, and taking opportunities when they are given. 

Biles and Raisman at 2016 Olympics https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raisman_and_Biles.jpgWhile growing up she had issues with her body image. Kids would bully her because of how big her arms were. One of the names they used to call her was “swoldier." Simone started to cover her arms and wore long sleeves and sweaters all year round. Being more exposed to talented young gymnasts and working with Aly Raisman helped to raise her self-confidence and love her body. I wish I could tell my younger self to be positive about my body, because when you learn to love your body, you learn to fall in love with yourself. Biles has since started to love herself and show off her big arms. She now feels gorgeous being able to wear tank tops and sleeveless dresses.  

One of the biggest challenges Simone has had to face was with her team doctor Larry Nassar. Over 140 female athletes have reported abuse by Nassar. Many people have also said that USA Gymnastics has tried to silence them and cover it up. It has been said that the USA Gymnastics has paid people to quiet them about the situation. Simone has said that she was reluctant to speak out about the sexual abuse because for a long time she questioned if it was her fault. She would ask herself if she was “too naive.” Simone has also expressed how hard it has been being hurt by someone they were told they could trust. This makes people in the future hard to trust. It is also hard to have to return to the same training facility at which she was abused. 

Biles at 2016 Olympics https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Simone_Biles_Rio_2016e.jpgRecently Biles has also had to deal with her brother Tevin being charged with a triple killing. Three men ages 19 to 23 were shot and killed after a fight in Ohio on New Years Eve. Two other men were also shot but survived. Biles-Thomas was then arrested in Georgia with charges of murder, voluntary manslaughter, felonious assault and perjury. After the incident Simone reached out on Twitter to say, "There is nothing that I can say that will heal anyone's pain, but I do want to express my sincere condolences to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.” The trial for this case started on January 13th 2020. Edit: Biles-Thomas was acquitted in 2021.  

With everything that Simone has gone through in her life, she still makes sure she has a smile on her face and works really had to be the best gymnast he can be. Biles has also been a huge advocate for children in foster care and has been a partner with Mattress Firm Foster Kids. This program has helped to give foster kids over 600,00 items like clothes and school supplies. Biles tries to go to as many Mattress Firm Foster Kids events as she can, saying, “I’m just hoping it can inspire other foster kids to never give up and to always pursue your dreams. And to play sports and get good sleep!”

The following section was added by The MY HERO Project in 2024:

 2020 Summer Olympics

During the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games (which took place in 2021 because of the COVID-19 restrictions), Simone Biles won what she has since called her most meaningful medal.[1] Biles was due to compete in the final of the Women’s Team Gymnastics event after qualifying in the preliminary rounds, during which it was noted that she seemed more nervous than expected. After the qualifying round, Biles shared on social media that she felt “the weight of the world,”[2] on her shoulders. The first of the four events in the team category was the vault and Biles performed last out of the four for the U.S. team; midway through the air she simplified her routine, making one and a half turns rather than two, and almost fell when landing.[3] Biles had fallen victim to a mental block, sometimes referred to the ‘twisties’ in the world of gymnastics. In essence, the athlete’s mind and body become out of sync,[4] which can be extremely dangerous when attempting to complete challenging routines.

After the vault, Biles decided against continuing in the other three events alongside her teammates, worried that not only might she injure herself, but jeopardise her teammates’ chance of securing a medal. The team won silver, second to the Russian team. In a press-conference following the event, she said:

I just felt like it would be a little bit better to take a back seat to work on my mindfulness, and I knew that the girls would do an absolutely great job. I didn't want to risk the team a medal for kind of my screw-ups because they've worked way too hard for that. So, I just decided that those girls need to go in and do the rest the competition.[5]

Later, Biles also withdrew from the individual all-around event, the individual vault, uneven bars, and floor final, deciding not to risk injury and prioritize her mental wellbeing. However, a few days later, she decided to compete in the balance beam final with a slightly simpler routine for which she won a bronze medal. On the bronze medal, Biles said:

It means more than all of the golds because I pushed through so much the last five years and the last week while I’ve even been here. […] I didn’t really care about the outcome. I was just happy that I made the routine and that I got to compete one more time.[6]

2024 Summer Olympics

On August 5, 2024, Biles finished competing in her third Olympic Games after making an incredible comeback, having won four more medals. She won gold along with her teammates in the Women’s Team event, gold in the individual all-around and vault events, and silver in the individual floor event. She said in a press conference:

I've accomplished way more than in my wildest dreams, not just at this Olympics, but in the sport. A couple years ago, I didn't think I'd be back here at an Olympic Games, so competing and then walking away with four medals... I'm not mad about it. I'm pretty proud of myself.[7]

Recent Awards and Recognition

In 2022, Biles received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that can be awarded to civilians in the U.S. 25 years old at the time, she was the youngest person ever to have been granted the honor.[8]

President Joe Biden presents the Medal of Freedom to gymnast Simon Biles, Thursday, July 7, 2022, in the East Room of the White House.Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz via Wikimedia Commons

In 2024, Biles was awarded the Comeback of the Year Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards; it was her fourth Laureus Award. Later in the year, she received the ESPY Best Comeback Athlete Award.

Simone Biles has overcome much adversity throughout her life. From being raised in the foster care system to becoming history’s most decorated gymnast, Biles is an inspiration to people across the globe. The events at the 2020 Olympic Games sparked a global conversation and reminded us that you cannot achieve greatness, without prioritizing your wellbeing and taking care of yourself first. In 2024, Biles came back better than ever.