Whenever the Tokyo Olympics come up, Simone Biles often comes to mind in such a tough way. The whole world watched in shock, heartbroken as she faced something so unexpected, “Twisties.” But what about the people closest to her, like her mom, Nellie Biles? Nellie was right there after the Tokyo Olympics with Simone, every step of the way, and it wasn’t easy. Remember when Nellie said, “Everybody knows Simone’s story, right? All those times were really dark and stressful.” You can just feel how heavy those moments were for her.

During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), when Simone was battling the “twisties,” it all came to a head during the vault competition, where she stumbled and ended up sitting out the team final. The whole world held its breath, wondering what would happen next. But Simone wasn’t done yet. Although she withdrew from several events, Simone made a stunning comeback on the final day, earning a bronze medal on the balance beam. Yes, she may not have been there for team finals, but her team still got the silver. In order to do that, before finalizing that decision to take a step back, Simone had to speak to someone who would comprehend.

So, Simone dialed her mother’s number after doing her floor routine as she was not there in Tokyo due to Covid restrictions! “You can’t do it? That’s okay, honey. That’s okay,” Nellie reassured her. “They will do their best without you. I don’t want you going out there if you’re not in a good place, and you don’t need to go out there and hurt yourself. That’s just not right.” Nellie was really concerned about her daughter. “You need to take care of yourself, okay?” she added. “I love you. Just take some deep breaths and just know we are praying for you.”

Then one day, during her break from gymnastics due to the “twisties,” Simone Biles was having a conversation with her coaches, Cecile and Laurent Landi, who decided what was to happen next. Facing them again, Simone said, “I want to go back to the Olympics.” But her coaches were not quite as easy to convince. “They were like, ‘No, you’ve set expectations for yourself for so long,’” Simone recalled in a conversation with podcaster Alex Cooper for NBC Olympics. “Let’s just go back in the gym, get in shape, and see what happens.” Simone agreed; she did things step by step. Thus, Simone and her coaches agreed that she would focus on rediscovering her love for the sport without the pressure of any specific competition. But she shared her plans with her mom too!

Simone never discussed it with her mother Nellie, but Nellie knew there was something in the making. And, to be honest, she didn’t approve. “We didn’t want her to! Are you kidding me?” Nellie said with a hard-earned laugh. “I’m like, Girl! Don’t put me through this again! I wanted her to move on with her life.” Nellie, as a mom, already saw the loop that Simone felt, and the notion of her returning to gymnastics once again did make her a little uneasy. But when Biles made a comeback in Paris, that left Momma Nellie in tears!

Simone Biles’ comeback made Mama cry

When the 2024 Summer Games in Paris came around, Biles added three golds to her collection as well as a silver medal in floor exercise. Simone’s mom, Nellie, put it perfectly when she said, “This is rewriting her story, and I think it’s great. It’s rewriting it on her terms because she is in this place that she really perhaps wished she would have been for years.” It was a big deal, not just for Simone, but for her journey and how far she’s come.

But before that, Simone hit the stage at the 2024 US Championships and won her ninth all-around national title. Her family, cheering her on from the stands at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, was completely overwhelmed with emotion. Their reactions went viral; people couldn’t get enough of the love and support they showed. Nellie was in tears, watching her daughter perform with such grace, and fans caught every moment. One fan tweeted, “Her momma’s face says it all. She is just unmatched in every way. So beyond talented.” You could just feel how proud her family was of everything Simone had achieved.

In regard to the future, Simone is still open to the 2028 Summer Olympics in LA, although she will be 31 by then. If she decided to go for it, she would be the oldest American female gymnast to compete in the Olympics since 1952.But Simone, as always, kept it light when asked about it. “Never say never. Next Olympics are at home.” As clearly seen, even though Simone has accomplished a lot more than even most athletes could ever dare to dream of, the gymnast is not done yet as she continues to be supported by her family.