Every athlete dreams of winning an Olympic gold on the world’s biggest stage. However, for Shawn Johnson, that dream was almost daunting during the balance beam finals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With a stellar score of 16.225, the former gymnast was on top of the podium. But in a full-circle moment 16 years later, she stood on the other side at the 2024 Paris Summer Games. On August 1, the Yahoo! Correspondent watched as Simone Biles stepped onto the mat.

However, she wasn’t by herself. Johnson’s family had tagged along as well. The Bercy Arena was filled with anticipation and excitement, waiting to see who would be the new all-around champion. Even though the stands lit up in applause after every gymnast’s performance, Johnson’s four-year-old daughter Drew only had eyes for the 27-year-old. The tiny tot couldn’t help but ask for the Olympian, even giving her an adorable nickname in the process.

In an exclusive interview with E! News, Johnson opened up about her daughter’s Olympic experience. “She kept asking, ‘Mama, where’s The Best?” And this is the perfect instance of ‘Like Mother, Like Daughter’ as the former gymnast has always publicly acknowledged the seven-time Olympic gold medalist’s talents. Explaining what led to the moniker, Johnson explained, “It’s because I kept talking about Simone, how she’s the best. So instead of calling her Simone, she’s like, ‘Mama, where’s The Best?'” But did you know Biles once winked at Johnson during one of her routines?

In 2016, during the P&G Championships, Biles was performing a floor routine when the former gymnast caught the subtle move on camera. This just goes on to show the swagger and confidence the 27-year-old has, as further mentioned by Johnson. “I was taken back by that wink, because I remember in my floor routines, I didn’t even know – I probably couldn’t have told you my name in the middle of it, let alone thought to look at someone and wink. So, I thought it was the greatest thing ever.”

Along with a gold, Johnson also clinched three silver medals at Beijing in All-around, Team, and Floor Exercise. Apart from that, she’s also the 2011 Pan American Games team gold medalist and uneven bars silver medalist. The 32-year-old also has a balance beam trick named after her—the “Johnson” which is a “Leap forward with leg change and 1/4 turn to side split leap (180 degrees) or straddle pike position” as per the USAG’s official website.

On a separate note, she also compared Biles to NBA legend Michael Jordan, who came back to play 17 months after his retirement in 1995. On a similar note, Biles, after battling mental health issues and a bad case of “twisties” (a mental block where a gymnast loses control of their body in the air), returned to Paris after her highly publicized Tokyo withdrawal. “It’s like [Michael] Jordan where he doesn’t have to because he just is, but he is coming back no matter what,” Johnson said.

“She started a movement that allowed little girls to feel like they had voices again. She truly will change the lives of every kid who is in the sport from now on, because of what she did,” the retired gymnast said in another interview with Elle.

Seeing how Biles has paved a really special path in the sport, the legend would be glad to watch her daughter partake in it.

Simone Biles etched her name in the history books

Simone Biles made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games and walked away with 5 medals – one of them being an all-around gold. But after withdrawing from the Summer games at the Japanese capital, she couldn’t defend her title. The Paris Olympics were going to be different though – the queen was coming back for her throne. Even though Rebeca Andrade gave her a tough fight, she rose like a phoenix from the ashes.

Amid the raucous cheer at the Bercy Arena, the 27-year-old had accomplished a feat that was unattainable for 56 years. With a total of 59.131, she triumphantly led 3 of the 4 rotations, successfully clinching her second all-around title after eight long years. Is there nothing that Simone Biles can do?

Well, if you ask the Johnson, she’d be able to give you this answer better. When asked why Biles is considered the best gymnast of all time, the 4x Olympic medalist couldn’t help but smile.

All she had to say was, “Because she is. She truly has a god-given talent.” Leading up to the Paris Olympics, her opinions have seldom changed. After mentioning she’s glad she wasn’t commentating, she added, “I don’t know how to commentate Simone Biles. She has surpassed anything in our sport. She has been a voice for millions of kids.” Johnson further stated that, as a mother, she was proud of her daughter.

We’re sure the retired Olympian must have been elated to watch the best emerge victorious by the end of the night! What do you think of the G.O.A.T’s new nickname?