When Simone Biles won her first world championship back in 2013, her agent asked her a game-changing question: what did she really want to achieve in gymnastics? Sure, Olympic gold medals were on her mind, but one of her biggest dreams was to tour the U.S. Fast forward a decade, and that dream is now a reality!
Biles is now on the Gold Over America Tour, or as she likes to call it, “GOAT.” She’s hitting up 30 cities but now she is in Los Angeles to connect with the fans who have cheered her on, especially after her amazing performances at the Paris Olympics this summer. With 11 Olympic medals, Simone Biles has earned her title as the most decorated gymnast in history. But what’s next for her?
Following her showing at the Paris Olympics and winning four medals—three golds in Team events and All Around, as well as Vault and a silver in Floor—fans are left to ponder if she will participate in the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It seems like a no-brainer that she’d be a top contender for LA 28! However, she recently revealed a big secret about her future plans.
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In a recent YouTube video shared by Young Hollywood titled “Simone Biles on LA28, Tattoos, and Where She Keeps Her Medals,” host Lesley Robins posed a question that’s on everyone’s mind: “We’re in LA, which is coming up at 2028, so people are probably asking you all about that. Are you coming back in four years?”
Simone Biles revealed, “I mean, it’s such a tough question. It’s like I can never get a break; it’s we won at the Olympics, and then it’s like it’s living in the moment, taking in everything day by day, and just doing the celebration tour with the cast and the audience.” She implied that there’s always pressure and expectations surrounding her performance and future plans, especially after her success at the Olympics.
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Is the pressure on Simone Biles too much, or can she rise above it once again?
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Biles’ health has been in the spotlight even since she withdrew from several events at the Tokyo Games after experiencing the “Twisties,” a condition involving the temporary loss of spatial awareness experienced by some gymnasts when completing high-difficulty elements. After her showing at the Paris Olympics back in August and receiving accolades for her performance, Biles hinted at the possibility of participating in the 2028 Olympics, in Los Angeles by saying “Never say never” during an interview with USA Today.
By that time in 2028, she would be 31 years old, which would make her the oldest all-around Olympic gymnastics champion in 72 years. While contemplating her future beyond gymnastics, Biles emphasized that she is not hastily making any decisions regarding her involvement in the 2028 Games. She understands the challenges of competing on such a grand stage in the Tokyo Olympics.
Simone Biles’s Olympic journey against all odds
Throughout the Tokyo Olympics event, Simone Biles underwent a journey that highlighted her mental fortitude. While encountering challenges during her time in Japan, she managed to reclaim her position at the pinnacle of gymnastics. Coming into the Games, everyone expected her to dominate; however, the team finally witnessed a twist when her performance on the vault fell short with one and a half turns instead of the anticipated two and a half—an occurrence that left spectators in awe.
Her expression showed uncertainty as she took the decision to step aside and informed her teammates that they would have to complete the task without her assistance. The Team USA secured a silver medal; however, Biles’s unexpected withdrawal in the middle of the event drew all attention towards her.
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The day following the team competition, Simone Biles made it known that she would not be participating in the all-around final nor the vault and uneven bars medal events due to reasons beyond physical injury—rather rooted in personal struggles affecting her confidence and enjoyment of gymnastics, as she expressed during a press conference at that time. She mentioned facing challenges with the “Twisties,” where executing maneuvers seemed impossible for her to do smoothly.
She emphasized the importance of her well-being during that time period when she shared, “I didn’t want to risk the team a medal because of my screw-up.” After Biles took the time for herself, she staged a return by clinching a bronze medal in the balance beam final. There, she secured her seventh Olympic medal. In the lead-up to this event, she collaborated closely with team physician Dr. Marcia Faustin. With this, Biles reminded everyone just how extraordinary she truly is.
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Is the pressure on Simone Biles too much, or can she rise above it once again?