“I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I’m the first Simone Biles.” – The queen of gymnastics has done it all. From enthralling fans with her stellar performances on the mat to being the most decorated female gymnast of all time! Having raised the bar as high as Simone Biles has, many fans weren’t expecting her to step down from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to a severe case of the “twisties.” But the 7-time Olympic medalist came back stronger than ever and has now secured a spot on her 3rd Olympics team. She won the all-around title with 117.225 among a rousing cheer from the fans at the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis.

Amidst the Final Five is Biles’ best friend and teammate Jordan Chiles. The Tokyo silver medalist punched her ticket to the French capital by completing the podium in third place with 111.425. This will be her 2nd Olympics team along with Biles. But many don’t know how the two almost crossed paths a little before 2018. Simone Biles almost ended up going to UCLA back in 2014, but the path she chose completely altered her career path for the better. What incredible opportunity did the Olympian pass on?

All about Simone Biles’ collegiate career that never took off

Back in 2014, Biles had committed to attending UCLA, as she had always wanted to try college gymnastics. However, she had now found herself at a difficult impasse. With the 2016 Rio Olympics on the brink, she was incredibly keen on being a full-time gymnast. After careful consideration, the Olympian chose to defer, a decision she now believes taught her valuable lessons in dedication and self-trust. She let go of her collegiate gymnastics dreams and picked something much more monumental.

Simone Biles made her Summer Games debut in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Despite this being her first time on the world’s biggest stage, she stepped on to the mat with one goal in mind: winning the coveted gold. But the Olympian did much more than that! She clinched 4 golds in the all-around, floor exercises, vault and team events. She also clinched a bronze on the balance beam, taking home 5 Olympics medals. Despite her heartbreaking decision at the Japanese capital in 2020, Biles made a triumphant comeback in 2023. She was even rewarded with the Best Comeback Athlete ESPYS Award for her valiant effort.

But had she chosen UCLA, she would’ve met her best friend Jordan Chiles a lot sooner. The Olympic silver medalist attended UCLA from 2021 to 2023 and competed on the collegiate gymnastics team throughout. At the 2023 NCAA Championships, the Bruins had made it to the semi-finals. Chiles stepped on to the mat hoping to take her team to the finals. Her enthralling performance on the bars helped her secure a perfect 10. While it wasn’t enough to lead them to the finals, the Olympian became the first individual national champion from UCLA since Kyla Ross in 2019.

Despite opting for a collegiate gymnastics career post Tokyo, Chiles had decided to defer her enrollment back in 2023 to prepare for the upcoming Paris Olympics. However, after the 2023 NCAA Championships, she wasn’t too sure about what the next season would look like for her. “I’m just taking it day by day” Chiles told the LA Times. She didn’t confirm if this would be her last season with the Bruins. “I’m just trying to see how everything turns out, but we’ll see.” While she will be competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she has left the door to her time with UCLA ajar.

The power of friendship on and off the mat

Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles have an endearing relationship outside the gym. In fact, when Jordan finished 11th in the all-around at the U.S Nationals in 2018, she was gutted. She almost considered stepping away from the sport and focus on moving on to college. However, Simone Biles suggested she come to her gym and train alongside her. That is what Chiles did, and they have been inseparable ever since! Training with the GOAT helped Chiles find joy in the sport again. She eventually secured a spot in her first Olympics team alongside the 7-time Olympic medalist.

One of her favorite moments post qualifying was when Biles gave her a matching Olympic rings gold necklace. “She said she was waiting a while to give it to me,” Chiles exclaimed. While both the best friends made their way to the Japanese capital, Simone Biles made the brave decision of stepping away from the sport to focus on herself and her mental health. Jordan went on to secure a silver medal in the team event, while Biles then took on the role of a mental health advocate.

This helped their relationship grow even stronger, because both of them understood the challenges that came with it. Chiles once mentioned to Us Weekly how she often discussed mental health with Biles. “We understand each other whether we do have to talk to each other or not.” Despite of being incredibly close, the both of them didn’t need to talk to the other as often. But they always had each other’s back throughout, seeing how both of them prioritized themselves and their mental health.

Even though Simone Biles might have missed out on a golden opportunity to compete alongside her best friend at UCLA, they now are chasing an even bigger dream together. The two of them will now make their way to the world’s biggest stage at the French capital. While the both of them vie for the coveted Olympic gold, fans are equally excited to catch a few off the mat interactions and support between the two. Will you be watching?