After withdrawing from most of her events at the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles is back like she never left.
Biles' journey at the Games made news around the world as it turned what would have been her coronation into a conversation about prioritizing her physical and mental health. After Tokyo, she took a break from competition for two years, during which she became the youngest person ever (age 25) to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom and got married to NFL player Jonathan Owens. Biles made her competitive return in the summer of 2023, where she showed almost no signs of slowing down.
At the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium — the very same place she won her first set of world medals — Biles became the most decorated gymnast in world and Olympic history and even got a new skill named after her in the Code of Points. The Yurchenko double pike, named the Biles II, is currently the hardest vault being done by a female gymnast.
At first, Biles was reluctant to confirm Paris was the goal; wanting to take the journey one step at a time. However, in March, Biles revealed during a conversation with podcaster Alex Cooper that Paris is the plan as long as "all goes well in training."
Learn more about Biles' journey to Paris, where she's sure to be a medal contender once again.
What years did Simone Biles go to the Olympics?
Simone Biles has competed in three Olympic Games. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Biles won four gold medals and one bronze. At the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Biles left with a team silver and beam bronze.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Biles won three gold medals (team, all-around, and vault) in addition to silver on floor.
Did Simone Biles take a break from the Olympics?
Simone Biles took a two-year break from competition following the Tokyo Olympics, although she returned to training in September 2022. During her time away from competition, Biles got married to NFL player Jonathan Owens in April 2023.
What are the "twisties" in gymnastics?
The "twisties" are a mental phenomenon that causes athletes to become disoriented in the air, making it dangerous to perform high-level skills. This happened to Simone Biles during the Tokyo Games and was seen around the world when Biles was performing on vault in the team final. Biles was supposed to perform 2 ½ twists, but only performed 1 ½ after getting lost in the air.
"In the back (gym), we already knew my gymnastics was kind of janky,” Biles said on Call Her Daddy. “In training, I was having the twisties already, but I’m trying to push past that. I would literally tell the team ... ‘I’m fighting demons. I’m fighting demons right now, but I’m going to do it for you guys.’ I literally felt like I was fighting my body and my mind to do these tricks.”
Biles was able to return to competition in Tokyo for the balance beam final, where she won bronze after changing her dismount from a full-twisting double tuck to a double pike (a skill that doesn't involve twisting).
Although Biles didn't compete all of the difficulty she is capable of in her 2023 return, she has begun working twisting elements back into her routines.
Did Simone Biles compete at the Winter Cup 2024?
Simone Biles did not compete at the 2024 Winter Cup. Participation in the Winter Cup was optional, with many of the nation's top gymnasts opting to continue training for the upcoming spring and summer competitions instead.
How did Simone Biles do at the 2024 Core Hydration Classic?
The 2024 Core Hydration Classic was Simone Biles first outing of the year. She won the all-aroud title with a 59.500, nearly two points ahead of world all-around bronze medalist Shilese Jones (57.650).
It was the first time Biles performed the Yurchenko double pike on vault (Biles II) without her coach Laurent Landi standing next to the apparatus since 2021 – a precautionary measure for Biles’ peace of mind that incurs an automatic half point neutral deduction.
Also back in competition was the double double dismount off the uneven bars and the Biles II on floor – a triple twisting double back – which Biles hasn’t competed since the qualification round at the Tokyo Olympics.
How did Simone Biles do at the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Championships?
At the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Championships Simone Biles won a record-extending ninth all-around national title with her largest margin of victory at a U.S. championships since 2018. Biles also swept all of the individual event titles for the second time in her career and the first time since 2018.
How did Simone Biles do at the 2024 Olympic Trials?
On the final day of competition at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials, Simone Biles secured a spot on her third Olympic team.
Although it wasn't her best performance - she struggled on balance beam both days - Biles earned an automatic berth by winning the all-around title (117.225).
She is just the fourth American woman to make three U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams, and at age 27, she is the oldest women’s gymnast to make an Olympic team in 72 years.
Is Simone Biles retiring?
Simone Biles has not shared her plans for the sport beyond 2024, but hinted after winning the vault gold medal in Paris that LA 2028 may be a possibility.
"Never say never. The next Olympics is at home, so you just never know. But I am getting really old," Biles said with a laugh.