Simone Biles is an American artistic gymnast, considered the greatest in the history of her discipline. A multiple Olympic and world champion, she left her mark on the sport with never-before-seen skills and by speaking out about the mental health of elite athletes.
Simone Biles(1997 — ?)
Simone Biles
États-Unis, Belize
6 min read
Frequently asked questions
Famous Quotes
« We have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.»
Key Facts
- Born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, United States
- Won 4 gold medals at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016
- Withdrew from several events at the Tokyo Games in 2021 to protect her mental health, citing the “twisties”
- Made a triumphant comeback at the Paris 2024 Games with several gold medals
- Holds the record for world titles in artistic gymnastics and has had several skills named after her (the “Biles”)
Works & Achievements
Four gold medals (all-around, team, vault, floor) that revealed her to the entire world as an extraordinary gymnast.
Double tucked backflip with a half twist, the first skill to bear her name in the international Code of Points.
Triple-double: a double backflip with three twists, a skill of a difficulty never before performed in women's competition.
A vault so dangerous that she is the first woman to land it in competition, adding her name to a fourth skill.
She becomes the most decorated gymnast in the history of the World Championships.
A book in which she recounts her journey, from adoption to Olympic glory.
Several gold medals that confirm her status as the greatest gymnast in history after a long break.
Anecdotes
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles withdrew from several finals after experiencing the "twisties
a dangerous condition in which a gymnast loses awareness of her body's position in mid-air. Her decision, made to protect her health, sparked a worldwide debate about the mental health of elite athletes.
Four gymnastics skills officially bear her name in the international Code of Points, because she was the first to perform them in competition. This includes the "Biles" on floor, a double backward somersault in a pike position with a half twist, considered so difficult that few other gymnasts dare to attempt it.
Simone Biles is only 1.42 m tall, a small stature she has turned into an advantage: her low center of gravity allows her to chain together extremely fast rotations. Long seen as a disadvantage, her build became one of the keys to her exceptional power.
Along with a teammate, she helped expose the abuses of the former USA team doctor, Larry Nassar. In 2021, she testified before the United States Senate to demand that sports institutions do a better job of protecting young athletes.
After a two-year break, Simone Biles returned to the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 and won several gold medals, proving that a return to the top is possible even after a crisis of confidence and psychological struggles.
Primary Sources
I have to focus on my mental health. We also have to protect our body and our mind, and not just do what the world wants us to do.
I blame Larry Nassar, but I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse.
I never let my height define me. On the floor, I felt taller than everyone else.
Key Places
City where Simone Biles was born in 1997. She spent her early years there before being adopted by her grandparents.
Houston suburb where she grew up with her adoptive grandparents. It was there that she discovered gymnastics during a school field trip.
Host city of the 2016 Olympic Games, where Simone Biles won four gold medals and established herself as a global star.
Host city of the 2021 Olympic Games where she withdrew from several finals to protect her mental health, sparking a worldwide debate.
Host city of the 2024 Olympic Games, the stage for her triumphant return after a two-year break.
Site of the 2019 World Championships where she became the most decorated gymnast in the history of the competition.
Typical Objects
Large square surface covered with a soft mat and fitted with springs, on which the gymnast performs a sequence of acrobatics and choreography set to music. It is the apparatus on which Simone Biles invented several of her signature moves.
A narrow bar 10 cm wide raised 1.25 m above the floor, on which the gymnast performs leaps and balances. The routine demands exceptional concentration and a remarkable sense of balance.
A white magnesium carbonate powder that gymnasts apply to their hands to absorb sweat and improve their grip. It is essential on the bars and the vault.
Leather straps fitted with buckles that the gymnast fastens to her wrists to protect her palms during rotations on the uneven bars. They prevent blisters and skin tears.
A form-fitting one-piece outfit, often adorned with crystals, worn by gymnasts in competition. It allows complete freedom of movement and lets the judges clearly see the lines of the body.
A padded apparatus that the gymnast strikes after a running approach to propel herself upward and perform twists before landing. Simone Biles has executed vaults of unprecedented difficulty on it.
An award given to the top-ranked athletes at the Olympic Games. A symbol of sporting excellence, Simone Biles has amassed a great number of them throughout her career.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Tags
Daily Life
Morning
The day of a top-level gymnast begins early with a warm-up and stretching to prepare the body. This is followed by a first training session lasting several hours, devoted to rehearsing routines on each apparatus.
Afternoon
After a meal and a period of rest, a second training session takes place in the afternoon. It alternates between strength conditioning, working on combinations, and perfecting the most difficult movements.
Evening
The evening is devoted to recovery: body care, physical therapy, and sometimes psychological support. Simone Biles stresses the importance of rest and sleep for staying at peak performance.
Food
The diet of an athlete at this level is balanced and rich in protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables to sustain intense effort. Meals are monitored to provide the necessary energy without overburdening the body.
Clothing
In training, she wears a simple leotard or shorts and a tank top. In competition, the sparkling leotard adorned with crystals displays the colors of the United States team.
Housing
She lives in the United States, in Texas, and trains in centers equipped with all the apparatus. Her life is shaped by travel to international competitions.
Historical Timeline
Period Vocabulary
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Quadruple titre olympique de Rio
2016
Le « Biles » au sol
2013
Le « Biles II » au sol
2019
Le « Biles » au saut (Yurchenko double carpé)
2021
Record de titres mondiaux
2019
Autobiographie « Courage to Soar »
2016
Retour aux Jeux de Paris
2024
