Simone Biles is the queen of gymnastics, and for good reason! The Paris Olympics alone is an example of why. Paris was not just another Olympics for Biles; it was a declaration of sorts. A declaration that broke the longevity barriers that women face in gymnastics. As the world knows, she went on to win three gold medals in Paris. While that’s an accomplishment in itself, there’s something else too!

With this Olympic season, Biles became the fourth American female artistic gymnast to compete in three Olympic Games. Something that is still quite rare considering the physical demands of gymnastics. At just 27, she has created a legacy that gymnasts around the world can only aspire for. However, even as she inspired millions, Biles’ journey is not without its struggles. Struggles that seem to haunt her even today!

Biles continues to be body-shamed despite being a seven-time Olympic medalist!

Despite having won four Olympic golds in Rio 2016 and another three in Paris, the ghosts of the internet continue to haunt her. At 27, Simone Biles continues to face criticism about her appearance. Biles, growing up, was often mocked for her muscular build. However, this exact build made her the queen of gymnastics. But back then, it was simply a source of deep insecurity.

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As Biles herself puts it in an interview with Today, “I wore sweaters or jackets all year long to cover my arms.” She was even called nicknames like “Swoldier,” which often cut deep and made her feel out of place. Yet her muscles were her arsenal to 11 Olympic medals. Regardless of what the voices had to say, Biles continued to focus on her sport. And importantly, she began her journey to self-love!

The journey to loving herself ended up being transformative. Biles slowly realized that her muscles help her maintain a low center of gravity. And this, in turn, gives her an advantage while doing flips and twists. Whether she’s springing off the floor like a pogo stick or gliding across the balance beam with fluidity, her compact, muscular build helps her. Soon, Biles started to own her body!

“I love my body because it helps with gymnastics, and it teaches younger girls to love their bodies as well,” added Simone Biles. She embraces her physique with pride and shows off her arms with confidence. As Biles sees it, “Muscles are beauty.” And gymnastics helped Biles come to terms with the same. And how did that happen? When Simone started gymnastics, she catapulted into her tribe!

All of a sudden, as Biles puts it, “Everybody looked the same, had the same muscular build.” The rest, as they say, is history. Biles has, over the years, redefined beauty, proving that strength and grace are not mutually exclusive. Now she is onto something else. Something that perhaps is more career-defining than the noises around Biles!

Despite the downfalls of aging, Biles continues to redefine the sport!

While the waves of criticism continue, Simone Biles has learned to block the noises out. And, more importantly, fall in love with herself. But then came the curveball from the sport that she dedicated her life to! In gymnastics, as the world knows, for a long time now, youth has been a prerequisite for winning. Why is that? Well, athletes in their twenties are often considered past their prime. But leave it to Simone Biles to erase that stereotype from the face of the sport! However, she also admits that “At 27, my body is on a ticking time bomb.” Yet she shows no sign of slowing down!

The saying ‘aging like fine wine’ perhaps best describes Simone Biles. Even her gold-winning teammates in Paris couldn’t help but be in awe of her rebellion against age. So much so that Jordan Chiles even went on to say, “She’s old in the gymnastics world− quote, unquote− but in real life, she’s still young.” And it is this youth that lives within Biles that continues to help her walk the path of greatness. Simone Biles, pushing aside criticism and agism, is moving forward. Perhaps to another four medals in LA 2028? If history is testimony, one can never predict the heights of greatness Biles can flip her way into!