Simone Biles has been one of the biggest stars in the gymnastics realm at the moment. Having won 7 Olympic gold medals, the 27-year-old has surely established herself as the undisputed GOAT of the sport. Looking back at Biles’ journey, one would be thrilled to note that she started to excel right from her very first Olympics. Coming in as a teenager into the grandest stage of the world, Biles did not have any NCAA experience as a backup. 

However, once the 2016 Olympics in Rio got underway, the entire world got a glimpse of Simone Biles’ unmatched potential. Riding on her heroics, Team USA won the gold medal as Biles went on to win four more medals. She won gold in the floor, vault, and a bronze in the balance beam. But her most memorable victory came in the all-around category undoubtedly. After all, winning the all-around gold in a debut Olympics is no child’s play. 

Tagging along one of her closest friends, Aly Raisman followed suit, winning the all-around silver. And while the duo enjoyed their sweet time back then, it seems like Simone Biles has some regrets about her debut Olympics. In a recent interaction with Sports Illustrated dated January 6, 2025, Biles was asked about the one major Olympic moment she wants to relive. Surprisingly, Biles revisited the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

“If I could relive any moment from the Olympics, I would say 2016 all-around with Ali Raisman, just because we were so stressed out. I think we could have had a little bit more fun and lived in the moment,” said Biles. What Biles referred to was the fact that both the gymnasts faced immense pressure of expectations from social media. Trying to remain overly focused, both Biles and Raisman missed out on the little moments of fun and frolic despite their winning efforts. 

Reflecting on the mental pressure faced by the gymnasts, Aly Raisman too, voiced her concerns in an X post from 2021. She wrote, “Just a friendly reminder: Olympic athletes are human & they’re doing the best they can. It’s REALLY hard to peak at the right moment & do the routine of your life under such pressure. Really hard.” However, despite Biles regretting her lack of fun, Aly Raisman shared a bold move from the GOAT that left everyone stunned. 

Aly Raisman once reminisced about Simone Biles’ daring reply to Marta Karolyi 

At the height of her prowess during the 2016 Rio Olympics, Simone Biles was the rising queen of the sport. However, her former teammate revealed how she also emerged as a force of fearless confidence. Aly Raisman’s unfiltered story unveiled young Biles’ audacious spirit. While most gymnasts tread lightly around Márta Károlyi, the notoriously strict coach who oversaw Team USA’s medal dominance, Biles dared to show her rebellious streak! 

Simone didn’t stop even in moments of high stakes. “Simone is the only gymnast in history to feel confident enough to make a joke to Márta Károlyi when we’re on our way to compete at the Olympics,” Raisman revealed to Sports Illustrated.

As the team prepared for their qualifying rounds, Karolyi meticulously checked the athletes’ gear, asking, “Do you have everything? Do you have your grips?” Without missing a beat, Biles deadpanned, “No, I forgot my grips to compete at the Olympics.” The room fell silent. Everyone was left stunned before the weight of the joke settled in. With such a response, Biles at just the age of nineteen could find levity under a state of extreme pressure.