Fresh from an impressive showing in Paris, one question lingered on everyone’s mind. Will the GOAT Simone Biles be at the home Olympics in 2028? The gymnast, who will be 31 when the Games come to Los Angeles in four years time, left the door open. “Never say never,” she said. But since then, Biles has gone to remind everyone that age might be catching up with her as an athlete.

Since she has restrained from making any definitive statements about her Olympics future, the question remains. For now, Biles is concentrating on her Gold Over America Tour, which is set to kick off on September 16 in Oceanside. The 30-city gymnastics tour will also feature many of Team USA’s medal-winning athletes, including Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Stephen Nedoroscik, Fred Richard, Paul Juda, and Brody Malone. As they prepare for the first show, NBC San Diego’s Steve Luke caught up with Biles.

During the interview, Biles said that her achievements in Paris, which saw her win three golds and a silver ranks at the top for her and said that the GOAT Tour is an Olympic celebration to tell stories of those who excelled in Paris. It was only natural for the conversation to pivot in the direction of Biles’ future in gymnastics and whether we would see her for the LA Games.

The 27-year-old caught on when Luke stated everyone wanted to know just one thing. “Are you going for 2028? I know that’s what you guys are wondering. Obviously, we’re going to start off with this tour. We have 30 cities, 32 shows, let’s focus on that. And I think we deserve a good break” Biles said in the NBC exclusive. The first two shows will be in California, while the last will be on November 3 in Detroit. And as of now, the gymnast G.O.A.T. wants to take it one step at a time. 

Simone Biles’ focus will solely be on the tour for now. Even though she left things open-ended, Luke pried some more and asked by what time she would need to make a decision. “Everyone is different. We’re getting a little bit older. After Rio, I took about a year off. After Tokyo, there was more work to out in physically and mentally, so I took about almost two years off.” the gymnast stated.

The Olympian continued, “After Tokyo, obviously there was a little bit more work to put in, physically and mentally. So I took about 2 years off.” The debilitating case of the ‘twisties’ led to her withdrawal from the all-around team finals. However, she took some much-needed time to focus on what mattered the most—herself.

Though US fans would love to see Biles compete in the LA Summer Olympics, the gymnast will be 31 by then. In Paris, at 27, she was already the oldest gymnast to compete for America on that stage since the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, which saw four athletes over the age of 27, with Marie Margaret Hoesly being the oldest at 35 years old.

She also addressed the same situation on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on September 4. Biles said, “First, I’m getting older. 27 is a little bit old for a gymnast.” While Fallon told her, “You’re a baby!” Biles insisted, “Outside of the gym, I’m young! But in the gym? I am old.”

The fact that Biles has brought up age as a factor in two recent interviews, will be concerning for those who want to see her have a swansong on the home turf on the grandest stage. But Biles stated that if she does decide to go for it, she knows her team would back her up in a heartbeat. “But it all just depends. I mean, our schedules are a little bit crazy hectic. Now trying to go see my husband, and we’re in different cities doing long distance.” Jonathan Owens is busy with the NFL season while the gymnast has the tour to focus on.

Biles and Owens were in a long-distance relationship less than a week after their wedding in September 2023. In fact, when they got married in May of that year, they found themselves away from each other only days later. Owens had signed with the Green Bay Packers and had to move to Wisconsin while Biles stayed in Texas, the home of his husband’s previous team the Houston Texans.

Yet Biles flew all the way from Houston to cheer her husband on during the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. The decorated gymnast highlighted how managing such a relationship is challenging. Taking to her Instagram after the Packers win, she wrote, “Long distance isn’t easy, but seeing you play your heart out is so worth it. I’m so proud of you baby.”

Coming back to her gymnastics future, it is no surprise that she wants a break from the competitive field for now and takes time to decide her future. The rigors of the last three years, especially after what she experienced in Tokyo, bore fruit in Paris, but for now she has other plans.

While her decision to contest in Los Angeles relies on several factors including how she wants to carry her relationship with Owens, she reassured fans that she would make a decision. “When is that, I’m not too sure. But I know if that happens, we’ll be ready.” Thankfully, she disclosed her plans after the conclusion of the tour. 

Simone Biles is excited to see Jonathan Owens in Chicago

Steve Luke ended the conversation on a high note by asking the 27-year-old what she’s looking forward to once the Gold Over America Tour is done and dusted. “After this, I’m really excited to go support my husband,” she confessed, grinning widely. Before she got back to the gym, the gymnast had accompanied Owens to a few of his games. However, with their packed schedules, they are in a long-distance situation. “So, to go and support him at his games and be in Chicago with him and the dogs.” But she isn’t the only one looking forward to their time together.

On a September 13 episode of ‘Sippin’ with Screeden’, the Chicago Bears safety revealed how the two might meet sooner. The tour will stop in Chicago on September 29, and he stated that Simone Biles will be at the game against the Los Angeles Rams. But once that is done and dusted, their plans don’t end. “And then boom, 7:00 p.m., I’ll get to go and watch her,” he stated. Regardless of whether the 27-year-old contests in 2028, we get to see her captivate the crowds during the tour for now!