“I’m ancient now. Forget grandma, I’m past that,” joked Simone Biles in June when she punched her ticket to what might be her last Olympics. As she qualified to (hopefully) add 5 more medals to her already impressive collection of 7, Biles dominated the All-Around at the Bercy Arena on Day 1 of the Paris Olympics. The world seemed to hold its breath every 75 to 90 seconds as the GOAT took on an apparatus.

The outpouring of love online—from Lady Gaga to Ariana Grande—and the thousands of fans rising to their feet to salute the official return of the gymnastics queen were nothing short of magical. So, is Paris 2024 her grand finale? Or will Hollywood 2028 see another comeback that’s straight out of a movie? Well, National Team Mentor for the U.S. women’s team, Carly Patterson, spilled some juicy details in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports.

Team USA’s National Mentor, Carly Patterson, has zero doubts about Simone Biles making a blockbuster return in LA 2028!

With her tiny frame, high ponytail, and lighthearted bounce in her steps, Simone Biles often gets mistaken for a teenager. But at 27, she’s rewriting the book on elite gymnastics, a sport where Olympic champions usually peak in their teens. Just look at the numbers: all but one of the last 13 Olympic champions were teenagers, including Biles herself in Rio eight years ago and Suni Lee, who cliched the All-Around gold at 18 in 2021. We asked Carly Patterson if Simone could stretch her career to LA 2028, and the 2004 all-around champion didn’t hesitate: “You know what, I don’t put anything past Simone. So I think Simone can do whatever she wants to do. She puts her mind at it towards it and she makes it a goal. I believe she can accomplish (anything.)”

Speculation started swirling that Paris 2024 might be the grand finale for 7-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles. At a post-US Olympic trials conference, she shared, “They want to see the downfall, which is really unfortunate because sports haven’t seen athletes like we’ve seen before,” referring to the backlash after her 2021 Tokyo withdrawal. She continued, “So you really have to give them their flowers in the sport because once they’re gone, you’re going to miss them.” But along with that cryptic message came a hopeful hint from Simone!

How are the GOAT’s feelings about her gymnastics ‘sunset’ years?

There’s a big shift happening in gymnastics. The sport is evolving thanks to older gymnasts like Simone Biles, Oksana Chusovitina, and Becky Downie, who are proving that age is just a number. Plus, gymnastics is moving from authoritarian coaches to a more athlete-centric approach, focusing on both mental and physical well-being. Simone’s former coach, Aimee Boorman, told AP, “They’ve stopped telling them they’re washed up at 17 or 18. … The stigma of ‘little girls in pretty boxes’ is not a thing anymore.” And that’s exactly why Simone keeps coming back to break the mold and keep pushing boundaries.

“I just love gymnastics,” Simone Biles said after the U.S. Olympic trials. “Nobody is forcing me to do it. I wake up every day and choose to grind in the gym and come out here and perform for myself.” She’s shattering the myth that elite gymnasts peak in their late teens. Even her mom, Nellie Biles, said, “Knowing Simone and just the fighter that she is, she will definitely want to leave on what she considers on top. That I think is what Simone wants for Simone.”

Earning 5 medals in Paris could make Simone Biles the second most decorated Olympian, right behind Larisa Latynina’s 18 Olympic medals. Will she keep pushing to break this record? Only time will tell. For now, we’ll trust Simone’s own words: “I think with everything I’ve been through, I want to push the limits, I want to see how far I can go,” she said. “I want to see what I’m still capable of so once I step away from this sport, I can truly be happy with my career and say I gave it my all.” What do you think about Simone Biles’ incredible journey and Carly Patterson’s insights shared with EssentiallySports? Share your thoughts in the comments below!