Simone Biles is currently on hiatus from competitive gymnastics following her Tokyo Olympic withdrawal. The gymnast wished to prioritize her mental health and took time off from the sport to rebuild her health and get back into the right mindset. 

It surprised the world when Biles pulled out of multiple events. But this isn’t the first time the Olympic champion has taken a break from gymnastics. After the Rio Olympics, she declared she would take a year off from training.

Simone Biles’ struggle on Dancing with the Stars

In 2017, during her hiatus, Simone Biles competed in the 24th season of the reality TV series Dancing with the Stars. Paired with professional dancer Sasha Farber, she was favored to win. But she came in fourth, eliminated a week before the finals. Biles found week 8 particularly difficult.

“I’d like to see more authenticity about who you are when you perform,” judge Carrie Ann Inaba commented on her performance. Seeing her glum demeanor, host Tom Bergeron asked after the gymnastics legend. Biles told him, “smiling doesn’t win you gold medals.”

In the rehearsal room, she broke down with her professional dancing partner, Farber, feeling dejected that her efforts weren’t bearing fruit. “I feel like I’ve been trying my hardest and they just keep saying no,” said a tearful Biles. “I can only try so hard until I’m done.” Farber comforted her, telling her that her efforts were enough.

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For their performance next week, judge Inaba herself joined the duo in practice. “I loved your comment back to us, because it was very honest of you, and that’s what I want to tap into with you,” said Inaba. Biles gave an incredible performance and received a 40/40 from the judges.

Biles’ dancing journey was rewarding

Unfortunately, Simone Biles’ run on Dancing with the Stars only lasted nine weeks. But in those nine weeks, the 4-time Olympic champion and her partner tried several classic dance styles. From foxtrot to tango, and rumba to contemporary, Biles added a diverse skill set to her arsenal.

“Yes, this is a journey that I’ve embarked on, and I’ve done things. I’ve never danced in heels, never danced with a guy, so I feel like I’ve won a lot.” She told ET, “I’ve won a friendship for life [with Farber]. I’ve been non-stop since the Olympics. I’ll have a week off.”

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She also made friends with Normani Kordei, her fellow cast mate, and forged a strong friendship with her. While Biles’ attempt to replicate her Rio teammate Laurie Hernandez’s win last season failed, she certainly made her mark. She resumed her gymnastics training with Laurent Landi, after her longtime coach, Aimee Boorman, moved to Florida with her family.