Simone the Star

Simone Biles took a deep breath. She stood on the edge of the floor mat. It was the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Biles and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team were competing for a gold medal. If they won, Biles would hold a new record. She would have the most Olympic medals ever won by an American gymnast. That would be eight medals! 

The music started. Biles began running and cartwheeling across the mat. She leapt 12 feet high. She flipped in the air twice and landed on her feet. The audience was in shock. Her score came on the screen, and it was official. Biles had more Olympic medals than any other American gymnast. 

Today Biles makes gymnastics look easy. But her life wasn’t always simple. When she was young, her mom couldn’t take care of her. So her grandparents adopted her.

Biles would run and jump all the time. During a field trip, a gymnastics coach saw Biles moving around. The coach suggested she try the sport. Biles was immediately hooked. She started practicing gymnastics for hours every day.

Biles soon became a star. At her first junior national competition, she won first place in an event! She was only 13 years old.

Today Biles makes gymnastics look easy. But her life wasn’t always simple. When she was young, her mom couldn’t take care of her. So her grandparents adopted her.

Biles would run and jump all the time. During a field trip, a gymnastics coach saw Biles moving around. The coach told her she should try the sport. Biles loved it immediately. She started practicing gymnastics for hours every day. 

Biles soon became a star. She won first place in an event at her first junior national competition! She was only 13. 

Biles spent the next few years training, competing, and improving her skills. In 2016, she competed in her first Olympic Games. Biles shocked the crowds with her moves. She won five medals! And she didn’t stop there. Over the next three years, she competed all over the world. She won more than two dozen medals.

In 2021, Biles went to the Olympics again. But this time, she had trouble with her routines. She had a case of the “twisties.” This can sometimes happen to gymnasts. Biles would flip or jump during a move. Then she would lose her sense of where she was. She would get lost in midair while upside down. She couldn’t remember how to do the right number of flips or twists. She couldn’t remember how to land! 

Biles was worried about her safety. She decided to drop out of most events.  She was devastated. But she didn’t quit. She took time to focus on her health. She started practicing again. She set her next goal. It was to win another Olympic gold medal.

In 2024, Biles traveled to the next Olympic Games, in Paris, France. She impressed the judges and everyone at home. And she won three more gold medals. She also won a silver!

Biles now has more medals than any other gymnast. She’s done moves that nobody else could do. And she showed the world what happens when you never give up.

Five different moves are named after Biles. That means she was the first person to do each move at a major competition.

Five different moves are named after Biles. That means she was the first person to do each move at a major competition.

No other American gymnast has won this many. Biles won four medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France!

No other American gymnast has won this many. Biles won four medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France!

Biles has competed in the World Championships six times. She’s won 30 medals, more than any gymnast in history.

Biles has competed in the World Championships six times. She’s won 30 medals, more than any gymnast.

That’s about how long Biles spends training each day. Along with practicing gymnastics moves, she swims, runs, or bikes for miles.  

That’s about how long Biles spends training each day. She practices gymnastics moves and also swims, runs, or bikes for miles.