Being a college athlete definitely comes with its fair share of pressure. Just think about it: managing studies, gymnastics, events, trips, and training—it can all get pretty hectic! This is something that Simone Biles‘ teammates on the Gold Over America Tour know all too well. Led by Biles, this year’s tour features several Team USA Olympians, including Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Brody Malone, Frederick Richard, and Paul Juda. Joscelyn Roberson, an 18-year-old alternate for Team USA in Paris and a freshman at the University of Arkansas, is also on the tour. She’s a great example of how college athletes balance school and sports!

But who would miss GOAT? The Gold Over America Tour is such an amazing event! Spanning nearly two months, this coast-to-coast adventure showcases gymnasts across the U.S. Now in its second year, the tour aims to inspire the next generation of stars in the sport while bringing gymnastics to a wider audience. While fans enjoy the dazzling flips and routines, it’s important to remember the challenges these young athletes face behind the scenes. Joscelyn Roberson recently opened up about this side of the experience in an interview with SELF magazine.

In her interview, Roberson shared how she balances being a gymnast with her studies. She explained, “We have call time around 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m. every single day. Until then, I usually do schoolwork or hang out, whatever.” She also mentioned her friendship with Jade Carey, saying they often keep each other accountable when it comes to schoolwork. “Last night, me and Jade [Carey], we stayed on the bus and studied. We are both in college right now, so we’ll be like, ‘Okay, we have to make sure we get this assignment done before we do anything else.’”

Once their schoolwork is done, it’s time to get ready for the show. Roberson described her pre-performance routine, noting that it’s a quick process to transform from studying to showtime. It’s so inspiring to see athletes like her and Jade, who is a student-athlete at Oregon State University, navigate the challenges of college life while dazzling audiences with their incredible performances! But let’s be real—becoming the greatest of all time in gymnastics, like Simone Biles, takes serious dedication not only in the gymnastics mat but in the classroom too. And it’s pretty cool that Simone too has a degree, proving that you can ace both academically and athletically, exemplifying how passion and perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievements!

Simone Biles’ leap from gymnastics passion to greatness

Simone Biles, with 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, has earned her place as the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast in history. Her fondness for gymnastics began at an early age, six years old. It started on a field trip organized by her daycare center that ignited her enduring love for the sport. At the age of 14, Biles chose to transition to homeschooling in order to allocate time for training and concentrate fully on honing her skills in gymnastics.

Back in 2014, Biles made the decision to commit to UCLA by signing a letter of intent upon completion of the 2016 Rio Olympics for her college endeavor; however, in 2015 she opted out of the college route altogether in favor of focusing on her professional gymnastics career, which eventually brought about amazing Olympic achievements.

Following Biles’ achievement of clinching five medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics—four of which were gold—Biles decided to take a break from competing to delve into endeavors in life. In 2018, she made public her decision to register at the University of the People—an institution that does not charge tuition fees—where she set her sights on earning a degree in business administration. Expressing her aspirations for education and personal growth in academia, Biles stated, “I still want to pursue a college degree, and the University of the People offers me the flexibility I need.”

Following that, Simone Biles took on the role of a representative for the University of the People. And played a key part in creating the Simone Biles Legacy Scholarship Fund to assist foster care students—an issue close to her heart. The university fondly refers to her as a graduate. Her influence serves as motivation for individuals globally.