10 questions · Society & Everyday
Simone Biles is born in the United States in 1997 and, after a difficult early childhood, is raised by her grandparents, who adopt her. At six she discovers her passion (and an extraordinary talent) on a trip to a gym. Despite her small stature, or precisely because of her enormous power and spring, she becomes the dominant gymnast of her generation. Biles performs elements that no one before her had dared. Vaults and routines of such high difficulty that several gymnastics elements are officially named after her: whoever performs one is doing "a Biles". At world championships and Olympic Games she wins an unprecedented number of medals and is regarded by many as the greatest gymnast in history. In 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, she makes a courageous decision debated around the world: in the middle of the competition she withdraws, placing a dangerous loss of spatial awareness in the air (the so-called "twisties") and her mental health above winning a medal. In doing so she powerfully brings the issue of mental health in elite sport into the open. She returns stronger and celebrates further great successes. Simone Biles thus stands not only for athletic excellence but also for the courage to look after oneself. She has shown that true strength can also mean setting limits and has become a role model far beyond sport.
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gymnastics
Many consider her the greatest gymnast of all time.
💡 Did you know? Biles is regarded as the greatest gymnast in history, with a blend of power, height and precision no one had matched before.
elements are named after her
Several daring gymnastics elements are officially named after Biles, because she was the first to perform them in competition.
💡 Did you know? She performs vaults of such high difficulty that they bear her name.
an unprecedented number of medals
She is one of the most successful gymnasts in history.
💡 Did you know? Biles has won more World and Olympic medals than any other gymnast: some of her skills are so hard that judges deliberately score them low to discourage imitators.
withdrawing for her mental health
At the 2021 Tokyo Games, Biles withdrew from several events to protect her mental health: a move that drew worldwide attention.
💡 Did you know? She was experiencing a dangerous loss of spatial awareness in the air, the "twisties".
mental health in sport
She showed that true strength can also mean setting limits.
💡 Did you know? By speaking openly about pressure and mental strain in elite sport, Biles sparked an important global debate.
USA
She was raised by her grandparents, who adopted her.
💡 Did you know? Biles competes for the US and was raised by her grandparents, who adopted her as a child.
successful comeback
In 2023 and 2024 Biles made an impressive comeback, winning World and Olympic gold again: stronger than ever.
💡 Did you know? She became a role model far beyond sport.
Foto: Ocoudis · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Simone Biles
Simone Biles (b. 1997) is an American gymnast and is regarded as the most successful and greatest gymnast in history.
💡 Did you know? Biles performs skills so dangerous that scarcely anyone else attempts them: five gymnastics elements bear her name.
1997
Born: 14 March 1997 in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Born: 14 March 1997 in Columbus, Ohio
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