Saddened Simone Biles Gains Gymnastics Community’s Support Over Confession

Simone Biles has had a hero’s welcome since her comeback in Paris. After all, winning 3 Olympic gold medals at 27 years of age is not everyone’s cup of tea. For instance, the last time a female US gymnast competed in the Olympics while being 27 was 72 years ago! Now, while these stats glorify Biles’ achievements further, it also paves the way for an unwanted discussion. All the above threads point toward an inevitable conclusion: Simone Biles is aging. 

As much as the gymnastics world would dread such an outcome, Biles is slowly starting to bow down to Father Time. Ahead of Paris, the gymnastics GOAT confessed in an interview with Today that her body definitely felt different. The 27-year-old admitted that after the meets, she immediately felt her body aching. Thus, as days passed, Biles needed more time for her body to recover and heal. 

And with each passing day, Biles is giving definitive hints that the twilight of her career is here. In a recent update on Threads, Biles had some somber news to share with her fans. Putting an end to one of her iconic moves, the 7x Olympic gold medalist wrote on Threads, “the fact I’ll never do a triple double again.” Such a piece of news was surely not an easy one for the gymnastics community to digest. After all, the triple-double was a fan favorite and is rated as one of the hardest floor routines. 

Debuting in 2019, a triple-double requires Biles to execute two backflips simultaneously with three twists in a tucked position. While the maneuver involves high risk, the US gymnastics queen has perfected the skill over years of training. Thus, the announcement of the routine being retired is surely not a welcome sign for the fans. Well, there are more signs coming from Biles about her potential in gymnastics declining with her age.

In a recent interaction with Jimmy Fallon, Biles was asked about her chances of featuring in LA28. And the GOAT did not answer directly. Instead of looking excited, Biles said, “Everybody wants to know this question. Can I just live?” There was certainly a tinge of frustration in her voice as the Olympic gold medalist had already mentioned retiring from all-around. Thus, with her latest update dropping, fans could not help but come to the support of the legend. 

Simone Biles gets the gymnastics community’s support over a major career decision

As soon as the news went viral, fans flocked to the comment section to laud the gymnastics G.O.A.T. One fan became concerned knowing about the major shift in Biles’ career. They wrote, “Did I miss an announcement?”. However, despite being saddened by her announcement, they immediately acknowledged the profound impact of Simone on the realm of gymnastics. “You’ve given so much of yourself to this sport. Thank you for sharing your gymnastics with all of us,” said the fan. At 27, Biles became the oldest U.S. female gymnast to compete at the Olympics in 72 years and added 4 gold medals in Paris, raising her Olympic gold tally to 7. And the way she has changed the narrative of the sport in the last decade, she will continue to remain an inspiration for rising athletes. 

Showering support for Simone Biles after she revealed she would no longer attempt the triple-double, one fan wrote, “You’ve already done so many. I’d be willing to bet that you do them every night, in your dreams. You’re an incredibly powerful woman. Your capacity to do so many great things is astounding. You amaze me.” Biles’ decision to retire the triple-double indeed reflects the toll age and physical demands take on even the greatest athletes. Despite stepping back, her record remains unparalleled. Biles has five eponymous skills named after her, a testament to her dominance, the triple-double, or Biles II on the floor, being one of them. 

Echoing the same emotions, another fan mentioned how she would continue to remain the queen of artistic gymnastics irrespective of her future ventures and journey. “You would still be the GOAT just walking in a straight line, Simone! ❤️” Fans recognize that Biles’ greatness isn’t defined by her routines but by her enduring impact and record-breaking performances in gymnastics.

Several fans also believe that they are fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to witness the gravity-defying stunts that Biles has pulled off. Highlighting the same one, a Threads user commented, “It has been our privilege to watch your incredible skills during your amazing career. THANK YOU 🫶🏼 Enjoy your  life. 💕” Understanding the toll gymnastics can take on an athlete’s aging body, the fans voiced support for her decision and expressed their enthusiasm to watch her shine in other fields.

Another fan agreed to the fact that Biles has truly done it all, going beyond all barriers to solidify her status as a GOAT in her sport. However, after securing endless accolades and emerging successful in her redemption tour, she has all the freedom to explore other ventures. And the fan seems to be awaiting the same as they wrote, “Everything has a season. You nailed a triple double in that season. You have new worlds to conquer. You get to decide which one. And we get to applaud you. Again. 👏 ❤️.”️ Such a heartfelt comment reflects how fans view her as eternally extraordinary, acknowledging that her skills would continue to live on beyond competition. It also brings forward her lasting impact on gymnastics despite stepping into the twilight of her career.