Simone Biles isn’t just a gymnast; she’s a legend. With a record-shattering 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, she is the most decorated gymnast in history, and widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. Her unparalleled talent, combined with her groundbreaking skills and unwavering determination, has solidified her place as a true icon of the sport.
Biles’ dominance is undeniable. At the Olympic Games, she is a two-time gold medalist in the individual all-around (2016, 2024), a two-time vault champion (2016, 2024), the 2016 floor exercise champion and 2024 silver medalist, and a two-time bronze medalist on balance beam (2016, 2020). She led the gold medal-winning United States teams in 2016 (“Final Five”) and 2024 (“Golden Girls”). Even at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she bravely withdrew from most events to prioritize her mental health, she still earned a silver medal with the “Fighting Four” team. Her openness about experiencing “the twisties,” a temporary loss of air awareness, sparked important conversations about athlete well-being and mental health awareness.
At the World Championships, Biles’ achievements are even more astounding. She holds the record for the most World Championship medals—30, with 23 gold—of any artistic gymnast, male or female. She is a six-time individual all-around champion (2013-2015, 2018-2019, 2023), a six-time floor exercise champion (2013-2015, 2018-2019, 2023), and a four-time balance beam champion (2014-2015, 2019, 2023). She has also claimed two vault titles (2018-2019) and been a member of five gold medal-winning U.S. teams (2014-2015, 2018-2019, 2023).
Domestically, Biles has won a record nine U.S. national all-around championships (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2021, 2023-2024), becoming the oldest woman to ever win the title in 2024. She is a seven-time champion on vault, balance beam, and floor exercise, a two-time uneven bars champion, and the only woman to win all five gold medals at a single U.S. Championships twice (2018, 2024).
Biles is one of only six women to win the individual all-around title at both the Olympics and the World Championships, and the first since 1996 to hold both titles simultaneously. She is the tenth female gymnast and first American woman to win a World medal on every event, and the first woman since 1988 to achieve this feat at a single Olympics or World Championships. She is also the originator of several incredibly difficult skills on vault, balance beam, and floor exercise, skills so challenging that no other woman has even attempted them.
Her accomplishments have earned her numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022), awarded by President Joe Biden. In 2023, she further cemented her legacy by winning her eighth U.S. Gymnastics title, surpassing a 90-year-old record. She is a three-time Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year (2017, 2019, 2020) and a one-time Laureus Comeback of the Year (2024). Simone Biles’ story is one of extraordinary talent, unwavering dedication, and remarkable resilience. She is not just a champion; she is an inspiration, redefining what’s possible in gymnastics and beyond.
