In the world of artistic gymnastics, there’s no shortage of incredible stars who make the fans gasp with their gravity-defying skills. And yet, the name Simone Biles evokes a sense of respect that can be matched by none other. With 30 Olympic and World Championship gold medals in her cabinet, there aren’t any contenders for the G.O.A.T. title in the world right now. But even she has someone to look up to.

The Paris Olympics will go down as a seminal moment in Biles’ already illustrious career. Not only did she make her emphatic return upon the big stage in the City of Love, she also walked away from the tournament with three gold medals. And yet, she was overshadowed by Rebeca Andrade in the floor routine, where Biles had to settle for silver. But no hard feelings from the Texas native.

Simone Biles seats her opponent on a high throne

Instead, Biles firmly believes the Brazilian phenomenon is something that gymnastics needs to ensure its integrity and popularity don’t wane. In an article by Vogue from October 11, the 7x Olympic gold medalist noted her admiration of her Brazilian colleague without holding back. While speculations about Andrade’s future in the sport are rampant, Biles hailed the former for her relentless passion for the sport. “Rebeca is dedicated, doesn’t give up, has a fun personality, and is paving the way for young girls in Brazil,” Simone is quoted in the article.

Biles went on to reveal how Andrade inspires her fans and colleagues alike with her continuous pursuit of greatness. Biles said, “As a colleague and competitor, she encourages everyone to do their best,” about how aspiring gymnasts should consider Rebeca as a role model who gives her everything to the sport every time she steps onto the court. And that’s exactly what her beloved sport needs, Bilesopines.

“It’s important to have her in a competition because she drives the sport.” The greatest gymnast of all time didn’t beat around the bush. But on the other hand, Simone isn’t too weak in chasing her own dreams either.

Biles’ efforts to help her colleagues

After her run-in with the twisties in Tokyo, Biles was the lowest in her life. Fans slammed her for abandoning her team in the final and weren’t hesitant to label her as a quitter. The backlash and criticism prompted Simone to go on hiatus, where she stayed away from competing for almost two years. She returned to action last year and went on to decimate all competition at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp. Since then, she hasn’t come second in any event that she participated in. She silenced the haters once again at the Paris Games and sealed her reputation as the greatest gymnast that ever was. But her personal dreams never held Simone back from extending a helping hand to those who needed it.

When her national teammate Jordan Chiles contemplated leaving gymnastics for good in 2018, it was Simone who stepped forward to convince her to keep at it. Taking Chiles with her to Texas to train together at the World Champions Center, it would look like the 27-year-old saved Jordan’s career. And Chiles’ mom hasn’t forgotten about it either. Just days ago, Gina Chiles thanked Simone for becoming a savior for her daughter when everything looked grim. Furthermore, Simone’s experience at the 2020 Olympics also gave her colleagues the confidence that talking about mental health can only help them ensure theirs. “Having Simone come forward and use her platform in Tokyo, I think, was really powerful,” said Canadian gymnast Ellie Black about Biles’ contribution to the gymnastics community.

But will Simone be able to fill the shoes that she believes Andrade wears casually? Tell us your thoughts about it with a comment below.