“I Am Old”: 2 Years With Simone Biles at WCC, French Gymnast Melanie De Jesus dos Santos Left Puzzled Over Future

Being associated with Simone Biles is an adventure in and of itself. While Biles is laser focused on Paris glory, her training compadre seems to have reached an impasse. While Simone Biles is looking forward to heading to her pitstop Minnesota to get her Paris Olympics ticket, her French training partner is also waiting for the same, seated a thousand miles away. For the last two years, Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos, the French gymnast, has made Houston her home and Simone Biles her best mate when it comes to guiding her to fame. But now, at the juncture of finishing her Olympic trial preparation on a high, the 24-year-old feels heavy with introspection. It is not about facing Simone Biles in the rival American camp in Paris but something more nebulous and careerist. 

Rather, it goes deeper, churning out the fear of thinking about the future, away from the gymnastic life. In a state of homesickness for the last two years, the fear often finds its way to sneak in. But for Simone Biles-mate, few matters remain different. Spurred by uncharted terrains, what drives uncertainty in Madmouselle Santos’s mind?

Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos seems to just be winging it for now

On June 7, Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos will appear at the French Elite Championships to test her preparation for one last time before the Paris Olympics. Teaming up with French Olympian Cecile Landi in the WCC and training alongside Simone Biles for the last two years has hardly left any doubt in Santos’s mind regarding her preparation. But when it comes to topics like aging and life post-Paris Olympics, the gymnast finds nothing concrete to narrate. In her conversation with the Olympics. com, Melanie said, “I feel like I am old, honestly!… I don’t know. I don’t plan.” Words may not be proven disoriented as the World Championship medalist has reasons to back her statements. 

In a place like France where gymnastics is not as famous as it is in the USA, Melanie Santos is doubtful about carrying on with a career in gymnastics. So questions like “Am I going back to the United States? Am I going back to Martinique? Am I going to Paris for work opportunities?” seem apt. But the French gymnast has something in her bag if she needs to stay in France after the Paris Olympics. 

“You should know that I am studying fashion design and that maybe I would really like to make a career out of it,” Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos said, expressing her alternate plan. Yet, she agrees that breaking ties with gymnastics would be hard for her despite her knack in the fashion industry or having a Plan B. Ultimately, in coming to the USA, soaking everything in, and reinventing herself, her specialty in gymnastics has remained her pot to earn. She has described this earlier as well. 

From French island to Texas to be with Simone Biles- a journey to boast about

Since 13 years of age, Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos has been moving to places to find her glee. In this episode, she has left her home in Martinique and her initial training facility in France. But the WCC chapter in the USA has fulfilled her wish of proving herself ultimately. Explaining that part, she once said, “I think I made the right choice by leaving because I learned a lot of things. I rediscovered gymnastics. I’m having a blast in training, I’m having fun, I get along well with the girls, with the coaches.” Furthermore, in the USA, Melanie received her own audience, who would cheer for her despite her distinctive nationality. 

Calling herself a bit Americanised, the 4-time European champion added, “I’m not very famous there[in France] … but in the United States, they love gymnastics, so even if they don’t know (me) they’re going to scream, so that’s cool.” This cheering once led her to grab the second position after Simone Biles in the US Classic. Meanwhile, she could forget her initial complications of moving to the USA, facing VISA problems or language constraints.

But now when Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos is settled in Houston, she does not want to remember her initial days in the USA. Rather, she is finding ways to expand her gymnastics reach in the WCC, sharing corners with Simone Biles. Only time will decide her fate here.