“I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps – I’m the first Simone Biles”
-Simone Biles, 2016
Olympic Champion. The most talented gymnast of all time. The most decorated American gymnast. The first woman gymnast to earn three consecutive World All-Around titles. Legend. Superstar. Strong girl.
These are just a few of the many ways Simone Biles has been described.
Simone, who was born in Ohio and later adopted by her grandparents in Texas, began her training at age 6 after she was introduced to gymnastics on a school trip. While visiting a gym, Biles began imitating the gymnasts, and the coaches recognized her natural talent, so her parents signed her up for classes.
It is clear that Biles was built to be a gymnast. At only 4 feet 8 inches tall, her short stature and low center of gravity, combined with her incredible athletic power make her a gymnastics powerhouse. However, the natural talent that was evident even at the young age of 6 is not how she earned her legendary status.
Simone credits her accomplishments to her faith, her family, and her hard work. In her book, Courage to Soar, Biles says this about her journey:
“You might think that going from a girl in foster care to being an Olympic gold medalist in Rio de Janeiro is the most amazing part of my journey. It isn’t. It’s how I got there — or more accurately, who got me there — that is most miraculous. I’m going to tell you a story. My story. How my faith and my family made my wildest dreams come true. And how embracing a dream can give you courage to soar.”
With the support of her family, Biles embraced her dream and trained hard. While she trains for close to 35 hours per week, Biles keeps things fun. Her big smile and engaging personality shine through both in and out of the sport. You can see it in her floor routines as she dances around, and during training as she invents new skills. One move, a complex flip that she incorporated into her floor routine during the 2013 World Championships, is known as the “Biles”. She continues to create more signature moves, including the Triple Double flip that you can see in this 2019 floor routine.
Since that fateful day when she was 6 year old and first entered a gym, Simone Biles has earned a combined total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, making her the most decorated American gymnast and the third most decorated gymnast in the world. She has been training for Tokyo 2020, and we hope to see her at the re-scheduled 2021 games.
However, the most amazing thing about this Strong Girl is not the medals that she has earned. It is her humble heart, incredible work ethic, and energetic attitude that inspire us, and millions of others, to be more like her, to dream big and follow our hearts.
Read about last week’s #StrongGirl, pioneering pilot Beverley Bass, and check back every week for more #StrongGirlSaturday.
