Katie Walsh has landed an amazing opportunity: she gets to follow Simone Biles throughout the Paris Olympics for Simone Biles Rising Part 2, which premieres on Netflix on October 25th. This next chapter dives into Biles’ journey as she secures her spot on the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2024 Trials and continues her path to becoming the most decorated gymnast in history. Walsh has a solid connection with Biles, having worked back in 2021 also on projects.

During the Paris Olympics, Walsh had the chance to capture Biles as she sought redemption after facing challenges in previous competitions. Biles really came through, winning three gold medals and a silver, proving once again why she’s a legend in gymnastics. When Walsh spoke with Fox News about the experience, she couldn’t help but express her excitement: “It’s awesome.”

Walsh also highlighted the unique bond she shares with Biles, noting how comfortable the gymnast is around her. “I think that the beauty of our relationship is that she feels comfortable to be who she is in whatever moment,” Walsh said. She remembered the time she spent in Biles’s hotel room as she got ready for the competition and sensed the tension in the atmosphere. “I’m so grateful that she let us in for those moments,” Walsh added. “It’s never a negative thing with her; she’s just sometimes really serious and really intense because she’s about to compete.”

Katie Walsh has worked on a documentary featuring Simone Biles before this one; she has been documenting Biles’s experiences since 2019, which was shared on a Facebook series titled “Simone vs. Herself,” which was released in 2021. Walsh is known for her skills as a director and producer and has earned multiple Emmy Awards for her work in capturing remarkable stories. With “Simone Biles Rising,” she sought to present a portrayal of Biles’s path and achievements. But the question comes: What was the Simone vs. Herself documentary about?

Simone Biles’ and Walsh’s unplanned documentary twist

When Simone Biles withdrew from the gymnastics team final at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Katie Walsh was at the Biles family home in Texas, capturing what was supposed to be another celebratory moment for the iconic gymnast. Instead, she ended up filming Biles’ mother, Nellie, receiving a phone call from Simone in Japan, where she explained that she was about to withdraw from the competition due to experiencing the “twisties.”

Looking back, Walsh reflected on that moment, saying, “When I look back now, I can start to see the cracks.” She admitted she wasn’t prepared for the situation, having never heard of the twisties before. While Walsh was just as stunned as everyone else by Biles’ withdrawal and her subsequent break from competitive gymnastics, she felt a sense of certainty about what would come next: Biles’ anticipated return in 2023.

Before the Paris Olympics, Walsh believes Biles’s return was crucial, emphasizing, “I think she needed to come back for herself, to really just prove to herself that she can do it under those circumstances.” After developing a connection with Biles during the documentary series collaboration, Walsh felt prepared to portray the intricacies of Biles’s life.

During the creation of the documentary “Rising,” Walsh aimed to portray a view of Biles by capturing both her image and moments of vulnerability. “There’s this idea of the way the outside world looks in at her, and then there’s the way that she’s experiencing the world around her,” Walsh explained. This strategy enables viewers to perceive Biles not as the GOAT athlete but as a multifaceted individual dealing with genuine obstacles.

The filming started before the 2023 World Championships, when Biles impressively made a comeback and clinched four gold medals at the event. The docuseries delves into Biles’s life beyond gymnastics too, shedding light on her bond with NFL player Jonathan Owens. Walsh’s aim is not just to portray Biles as the greatest of all time in gymnastics but as a human being who harmonizes her sporting achievements with her personal growth journey.