Simone Biles Hopes to Compete in 2024 Paris Olympics
By Movieguide® Contributor
Gold medalist gymnast Simone Biles recently revealed on the TODAY show that she wants to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
“I would say that’s the path I would love to go, so I wouldn’t mind if you put it in the ‘yay’ section,” Biles said when asked about her Olympic plans.
“She’s going to Paris!” TODAY host Craig Melvin responded.
Until now, Biles gave only vague answers to this question.
“In 2021, Biles left the Summer Olympics in Tokyo after getting the ‘twisties,’ a mental condition which affects how a gymnast can understand where they are in the air,” TODAY reported.
“Added to this were the unique challenges and profound isolation caused by the COVID restrictions in place at the Tokyo Games. Biles’s friends and family could not be there. Socializing with other athletes was extremely limited. There was simply no reprieve from the pressure,” Texas Monthly reported.
Biles’ difficulties in Tokyo caused her to withdraw from the competition, but she still took home one silver medal and one bronze.
The gymnast says that she is in much better shape now.
USA Today reported comments from Biles’ coach, Cecile Landi, about the 2024 games: “She could do everything that she was doing before (Tokyo), and they’ve tried to design routines to ‘make her as mentally and physically comfortable as she could handle.”
Biles said, “It’s just about really taking care of my body right now. So that’s what we’re doing − and it’s working. So we’re going to continue to do that.”
Movieguide® previously shared how Biles views her talent:
Part of her commitment to the sport lies in her belief that it’s her God-given talent that she wants to steward.
“I guess I loved the freedom of the sport. There was no right or wrongs that you could do. You didn’t have to have one particular body type. You made everything mold into what you were born with. I think God gives every individual something special and mine was talent,” Biles added. “So to never take it for granted, which my dad always told me don’t waste God’s gift that He gave you. Because it’s like it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. One day I’ll be too old to do gymnastics. So for now I have to use it to the best of my ability,” Biles previously said.
