Simone Biles is currently at the top of the gymnastics world. Having made up her mind not to be called a ‘quitter’ again, Biles owned the competition in Paris. Winning an astonishing 3 gold and a silver medal, she nullified the GOAT debate once and for all. However, things did not come easy for the champion. 

Battling with a torn calf muscle and a hyperextended knee on the very first day of the competition, Biles could have given up. But she was never a quitter. Thus, getting back to the grind, the 27-year-old came out as the purest form of gymnastics gold. And now, venturing into several fields owing to her immense success, Biles surely has no unfulfilled dreams left. Or does she? 

Well, apparently there is just one thing that Biles never got to do, which was her childhood dream. In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, Simone Biles got candid about her famed life. Revealing her only unfulfilled desire, the champion stated that she always wanted to compete in college gymnastics. Reflecting on the topic, Biles said, “My main goal whenever I started gymnastics and I really, really got into it was to do college gymnastics. And I did everything but that.”

Starting her gymnastics journey as a junior elite at 14, Biles’ talent soon got her busy. Growing up, she was always fascinated about getting admitted to UCLA and winning the NCAA championships for her college team. Unfortunately, she did win her accolades, but on an international level.

Back in August 2014, Biles verbally committed to UCLA, even signing her National Letter of Intent that November, with a plan to start school after the 2016 Rio Olympics. And let’s face it—finding time for in-person classes wasn’t exactly realistic with her schedule. Simone Biles faced a tough call: either go full-throttle on her gymnastics dreams by turning pro or stick with her dream of competing in the NCAA for UCLA, balancing college life with elite gymnastics.

Spoiler alert—she chose the vaults and beams full-time! Just a year later, she made the big decision to go pro, announcing in July 2015 that she’d pass on college gymnastics eligibility to pursue her career. Though she couldn’t make it to UCLA’s campus, Biles still finished her education online, studying business administration at the University of the People. And did it all pay off? Absolutely!

She went pretty much over and above her initial expectations to become the all-time greatest gymnast. Recognized almost everywhere she goes, Biles gets overwhelmed when she is compared with the likes of LeBron James and Serena Williams. Now that is something that Biles will take happily despite missing out on her childhood dreams. However, having been involved with the sport for such a long time, Simone Biles still feels like she is the same old girl who started to jump around her house trying to be a star. 

Simone Biles tries to keep the fame-hype ‘normal’

Imagine spotting Simone Biles out in the open. The immediate rush of fans and the innumerable flashlights will surely be an expected phenomenon. Well, this is something that sometimes overwhelms the champion. Because, according to her, she is still pretty much the old Simone. And surely, Biles does try to keep herself as unfiltered as she can. She still munches on her favorite American pizza and also participates in friendly banters with her family and teammates. 

Thus, whenever she gets recognized as a star, in her mind, Simone Biles tries to keep things as normal as possible. Conversing with Olympics.com, Biles stated, “It still blows my mind everywhere we go that somebody recognizes me because to me I’m just still Simone, and I try to be as normal as possible, and I truly believe I am. I feel like I have a pretty good level head, so if I wasn’t Simone, I’d do everything that I want to do.

Just sometimes it takes a little bit more security or stuff.”  Thus, keeping a level head, Simone Biles has now transcended the realms of gymnastics. She is now a living legend who is a source of inspiration for the world at just 27 years old.