“We are all the authors of our own journeys, and I am in a place in my life where I’m comfortable with who I am and what I’ve been through as an athlete, but most of all, as a person,” said gymnastics extraordinaire Simone Biles in a statement released by Netflix. She has teamed up with the streaming giant to tell her story without the noise of critics and fans, setting the record straight. Produced by Religion of Sports, the series features four episodes, each around 45 minutes long, sharing the deepest and most private parts of her life. Despite her unparalleled success and numerous accolades, the series brought to the forefront the raw and often hidden struggles that athletes face. Now that fans are receiving this vulnerability with open arms and no judgment, the gymnast is beyond grateful. 

In a candid revelation, Biles opens up about her insecurities, behind-the-scenes struggles, and moments of vulnerability, providing a raw and unfiltered look into the life of a gymnastics icon. Simone Biles recently expressed her gratitude on X for the overwhelming support for her docu-series, Simone Biles Rising. She tweeted, “#simonebilesrising❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ so thankful for all the love & support being shown so far! I appreciate y’all XOXO.” Biles added, “I truly am grateful to have such an amazing & strong support system ❤️ I see your tweets & insta tags! THANK YOU & to all who follow, watch & support. I’m incredibly grateful! ILY’ALL.”

Released on July 17th, the series has captivated fans with its powerful narrative. Directed by sports filmmaker Katie Walsh, the show chronicles Simone’s journey from her recovery after the twisties incident in Tokyo, which led to her withdrawal from the Olympics, to her triumphant return to the mat. Fans are praising the docu-series for its inspiring story and emotional depth. Biles herself admitted, “I may have cried 2 or 3x while watching it“.

In a candid moment, when talking about the mental block she faced that totally prevented her from performing a twist because she feared for her safety, she said, “If I could’ve ran out of that stadium, I would have.” Even after she withdrew so that her performance would not hamper the rest of the team, she faced intense public backlash. Biles spoke about it saying, “everywhere I went I felt like they could ‘loser’ or ‘quitter’ across my head.” This is a particularly heartbreaking statement that reflects how difficult it is for athletes to exist in the spotlight during hard times. “So I always felt like everyone was staring at me, even if they weren’t.” 

Simone Biles even let the cameras into what she has called “the forbidden Olympic closet.” It houses all the costumes and memorabilia from Tokyo, including the brilliantly dazzling red leotard as well as the opening ceremony outfit. She said, “I used to just sit here and just cry and cry and cry. Ask God why this happened to me.” She further delved into how she has the Yurchenko double pike named after her but that every time she performs it, she is “mostly just trying not to die.” Simone Biles further admitted that her Tokyo performance was partly due to the immense trauma faced on the Karolyi’s ranch at the hands of lecherous doctor Larry Nassar. Her life has not been easy by any means. Simone Biles is not afraid of showing up on the mat one more time this Olympic cycle. 

Simone Biles’ miraculous comeback: Overcoming struggles and embracing strength

During the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles grabbed headlines for unexpected reasons. Her individual vaults, she faced challenges that ultimately led her to withdraw from the Olympics. It was a particularly hard time in her life and she took a two year hiatus following that from competitive gymnastics. During this time she got married to NFL beau Jonathan Owens and began her therapy. “It’s really important to use that support system and know they’re there for you and not against you, because at the end of the day, us as humans, we hate asking for help,” said the gymnast. “We think we can do it on our own, but sometimes we just can’t. So, use every outlet given to you.”

Her self-improvement came to a head at the 2023 Core Hydration Classics when she won with a score of 59.500, which she bested in 2024, going above 60. It was the highest score recorded by any female gymnast ever in an Olympic cycle. Even during the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Belgium, she won five medals, four of which were gold. Throughout the 2024 events too, Biles was unbeatable in the American Classics, the US National Championships and the Olympic trials. She won all of them and made another Olympic team. 

Simone Biles is determined to up the same energy in the Olympics. She’s calling it her “redemption tour.” As part of her training under WCC coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi she spends 6 days in the gym, with two practices each day on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Additionally, she does recovery sessions on Monday and Wednesdays. “I’m making a bigger effort to take care of my mind and my body, which includes therapy once a week. Thursdays are my therapeutic days, a moment for myself,” she told Olympics.com. Hopefully she will be able to add more notches to her bedpost in Paris wearing the 10,000 Swarovski jeweled leotard