Simone Biles often lives by the mantra “me, myself, and I,” showing just how deeply she focuses on her own performance. But even the best can hit a bump in the road, and that’s exactly what happened during the Paris Olympics. Known for her powerhouse routines, Biles found herself struggling on the uneven bars—a weak spot for her. For the first time ever, she landed in third place, and this made Aly Raisman in an interview with Olympics.com ask Biles, “Have you ever seen yourself in third place?” Biles responded honestly, “I haven’t ever been in a position like that.”

In Paris, Biles faced a battle with the bars, failing to perform the routine she had submitted to the International Gymnastics Federation. She stumbled with an extra swing while transitioning between the bars, and her frustration was clear for all to see. With a score of 13.733, she ended up behind Rebeca Andrade and Nemour, while Suni Lee finished in fifth. Finishing third was a tough pill to swallow, but Biles didn’t let it get her down. Instead, she focused on bouncing back, showing once again that even when the going gets tough, she knows how to keep her head in the game.

To regain her composure after the uneven bars, Simone Biles took a moment to focus on her breathing and calm herself. She shared that her therapist advised her to do this to manage anxiety. Observers were puzzled by her actions, with some wondering, “What is she doing?” Biles admitted, “I felt like I was praying to every god there was,” adding that she was simply trying to recenter and focus on what helps her stay grounded.

When Aly Raisman inquired about the distractions of numerous cameras during the competition, asking if she could hear the clicking of cameras and how she blocked them out, Biles revealed how she managed to tune out the noise. Despite the intense scrutiny, she remains focused on her performance, demonstrating her ability to stay centered and resilient even under pressure. As she puts it, “I was, like, recentering myself, thinking of, like, what helps me.”

Biles added, “I didn’t even notice the cameras. I was just taking a minute to go through my cues, focusing on what helps me feel at peace and how to get back to that spot. So, I didn’t really notice the cameras at all. It was like nobody existed except me, myself, and I.” And guess what? This technique helped Biles, as in the next event, Beam, Simone Biles competed first on the balance beam.

Despite wobbling on two skills, she successfully completed her routine, blowing a kiss to the crowd after her dismount and beaming with joy as her score of 14.566 was announced. Biles was in the lead, followed by Andrade in second, Italy’s D’Amato in third, and Nemour and Lee tied for fourth.

Biles shared a motivational perspective, reflecting on the intense pressure she faces. “I think what I’ve come to the conclusion of is there are such high expectations on me that I’m supposed to win. So whenever I do win or get whatever medal that is, I feel a relief off my shoulders—like I did it, I’m done, let’s move on to the next.” She reflected on how she acknowledges the hard work she puts in but doesn’t always feel the same sense of celebration. “I know I put the hours in and I know I put the work in, but it’s like, ‘OK, thank God that’s over,’ and people won’t have to talk or have Twitter fingers.”

Biles also expressed her excitement for the achievements of others, noting how she feels thrilled when she sees someone else succeed. She appreciates the hard work they’ve put in and wishes she could celebrate her own successes with the same enthusiasm. Instead, she often thinks, “Thank God that’s done.” For others, though, she’s genuinely amazed and impressed. This shift in perspective has allowed her to value her own progress while also cheering for others.

It’s this positive attitude that has cemented her status as a legend, with an impressive tally of 41 medals—11 from the Olympics and 30 from the World Championships. Even though there has been some talk about her recovery methods, it doesn’t faze her. In fact, those methods were crucial in helping her secure four Olympic medals at the Paris Games. Despite this, she’s no stranger to online criticism; even after the Paris Olympics, she faced trolling during her support of bears. But Biles knows how to shut them up.

Simone Biles doesn’t let the critics get under her skin

Simone Biles is used to dealing with controversy, but her latest fashion choice stirred up quite a reaction. At Soldier Field on August 17th, she showed up to support her husband, Jonathan Owens, at the Chicago Bears’ preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals—wearing a Green Bay Packers jacket. Given the intense Packers-Bears rivalry, fans quickly noticed Biles’ nod to Owens’ former team, sparking some heated responses.

Instead of diving into the fray, Biles chose to stay cool. Social media was buzzing with criticism, but she kept her composure. On Threads, she hinted at her frustration but ultimately decided against a public comeback. “The way I be wanting to clap back soooo bad but I gotta stay as classy as possible,” she shared, leaving fans to wonder how she might have responded if she had let loose. Biles clearly knows how to handle the heat and stay poised, showing she’s got both the grace and the guts to rise above the drama!