Simone Biles’ journey is the kind of story that every gymnast dreams of following. Well, Biles started gymnastics at 6, which is considered a bit late for most, but she’s shown that it’s not about when you start; it’s about making the most of your time and talent. With her work ethic and natural abilities, she has established herself as the G.O.A.T., racking up an impressive 11 Olympic medals along the way. After almost 20 years in the sport, Biles recognizes talent.

Recently, Biles met a promising 5-year-old gymnast whose mom believes her daughter has what it takes to shine on the Olympic stage. “I think [the 2036 Olympics] could definitely be a possibility for her,” said Tiffany Davidson. That little superstar is Nova Davidson, a Level 4 gymnast from Virginia who started the sport young and is already making waves.

Nova made her TV debut earlier this October on The Talk, CBS’ Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show. To everyone’s surprise, the legendary Simone Biles showed up and made a special promise to the young gymnast. The G.O.A.T. was all praises for Nova, saying, “I’ve seen the talent that Nova has. I actually got to meet her earlier this year, so I just wanted to be a part of her TV debut.”

Simone Biles didn’t arrive empty-handed; she had a stunning leotard waiting for Nova Davidson, and it was no ordinary piece! “The leotards are from my holiday collection. They haven’t come out just yet, but I wanted you to be the first to have them, Nova,” Biles shared. Fast forward to today, October 12th, and Simone has made good on her promise.

While Biles is busy with the Gold Over America Tour, which just hit the Kia Center in Orlando, FL, where she and other top gymnasts like Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera are leaping into 30 arenas across the country this fall, Nova and her mom were there to cheer her on. During the event, Simone made a special gesture for Nova.

Simone Biles took to Instagram to share a story featuring herself, Nova Davidson, and Sarita Scarlett, the owner of Pressed by Sarita, which specializes in custom apparel and accessories. The post was captioned, “Hand delivered to the GOAT,” highlighting the special moment. Biles, embracing her title, also had some kind words for young Nova, referring to her as a “GOAT.” It seems the stunning leotard was designed by Sarita herself.

While they were there, Nova Davidson sported a tee featuring Simone’s face, clearly showing she’s an avid fan! But you might be wondering how Simone got to witness Nova’s skills in action. Well, there’s a story behind that, too!

Inspired by the greatness of Simone Biles, Nova aims for the stars

July 2024 was a huge milestone for 5-year-old Nova Davidson, the little gymnast who’s stealing the spotlight! She went viral on Instagram after her mom posted a video of her practicing gymnastics moves on a beam in their living room. The video blew up, racking up nearly 56 million views and over 46.9k comments! While her mom Tiffany used to be a competitive cheerleader and her dad T.J. was a track athlete, they’re still trying to figure out where Nova gets all that talent. In gymnastics, there are levels 1–10.

Nova Davidson is at Level 4 but isn’t old enough to compete at that level yet. Training an impressive 12 hours a week, she practices daily at home, with her dad, T.J., noting, “She’s always doing some tumbling.” This year, she’ll train at Level 4 but compete at Level 3. In her first gymnastics meet, she won first place in beam, bars, and floor and finished third on the vault, showcasing her round-off handspring back tuck on her favorite event, the floor.

Nova’s gymnastics journey began at a young age; she participated in her first “mommy and me” class with Tiffany when she was just 2, and by age 3, she was ready for her first solo class! When it comes to advice, Simone Biles shared something important with Nova: “Just always have fun and live in the moment.” This resonates with Biles, who embodies that spirit in her own gymnastics. With Biles paving the way, it looks like Nova Davidson is ready to grab the bull by the horns and chase her dreams. Who knows? She might just be the next big thing in gymnastics!