Simone Biles is perhaps the greatest gymnast of our generation. And thus, for her achievements in the arena and her advocacy for mental health and social issues, Biles received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Thursday.

And the day she got the call from the White House, emotions were flying high in the Biles household. Receiving the nation?s highest civilian honor is no small feat. And the gymnast?s mother, Nellie Biles, couldn?t hold back tears.

Simone Biles? mother had a heartfelt reaction to the news

About a week before the ceremony in Washington D.C.,?Simone Biles got a call from the White House. When the Olympic champion heard they would award her with such an enormous honor, she couldn?t quite believe it. And it seems her mother was even more incredulous.

?To have such a prestigious honor like this, I don?t think it’s fully hit me yet. But I was like, ?Wow, this is like actually insane,???Biles?said?in a recent interview. ?My mom was near tears so many times, I was like, ?Can you keep it together!??

The most decorated gymnast in World Championship history also revealed that President Biden had wanted to make the call personally. Unfortunately, the POTUS was out of town.??But it was super exciting. We celebrated with champagne once we got the call, and now we?ll do that again tonight.?

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The call came when Biles was in Saint Louis, supporting her fianc?, NFL safety Jonathan Owens, at his first football camp. She began planning her outfits right there with momma Owens, her future mother-in-law. The gymnast-footballer duo will be getting married sometime next year.

Biles achieved a lot on and off the mat

It wasn?t just Simone Biles? 32 Olympic and World Championship medal tally that made her a prime candidate for the honor. According to the White House website, Biles is also??a prominent advocate for athletes? mental health and safety, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault.?

When the gymnast?pulled out of multiple events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics citing mental health reasons, it caused an uproar. She prioritized her mental and physical well being, inspired by Naomi Osaka?s withdrawal from the French Open. She has been fighting ever since to mitigate the stigma surrounding mental health in sports.

Last year, Biles also?testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2021 about the FBI?s handling of the Larry Nassar investigation. As a victim of sexual abuse, it was important to her that this matter didn?t simply get pushed under the rug.

The gymnast has also partnered up with different campaigns and companies. She has preached body positivity and helped children in the foster care system. For all of these achievements and work, she became the youngest awardee of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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