16-Year-Old Simone Biles ‘Didn’t Think She Was Good Enough’, Now She’s Oldest American Gymnast to Enter Olympics After 72 Years

“And still I rise,” – the words by Maya Angelou inspired Simone Biles so much that she tattooed them on her collarbone back in 2021. Living by the principles of Angelou’s poetry, Biles left behind the turmoil of the Tokyo Olympics and returned stronger than ever. After she made a comeback, she made sure to qualify for her 3rd Olympic run. With this, she became the oldest female U.S. gymnast to enter the Olympics in 72 years. Simone Biles showed the world that she has the ‘courage to soar.’ But, back in 2013, then 16-year-old Simone never imagined that 11 years down the line, people would know her as one of the greatest gymnasts.

However, for Biles, it was her first encounter with critics that shattered her confidence in 2013. She was just 16 when the gymnast participated in her first U.S. Classic and represented Bannon’s Gymnastix Club. But she fell several times from the apparatus, and couldn’t attempt her vault routine as she twisted her ankle. She concluded the event with the All-Around score of 41.300, and the highest All-Around score of the meet was earned by Kyla Ross (58.650).

Post that, someone commented on her physique and said, “you’re just too overweight. That’s why that happened like you’re fat.” Biles was heartbroken as her first US Classic didn’t go as she planned. And for a 16-year-old Simone, dealing with critics made her doubt her self-esteem. Following this, her father, Ronald Biles, got in touch with sport psychologist Robert Andrews, who helped her deal with nervousness and anxiety. 

Defining Simone’s mindset during the 2013 US Classic, her mom, Nellie Biles, told Glamour, “She was competing against these girls who were her heroes, her idols. And it was hard for her to adjust to that. Simone didn’t think she was good enough to compete with them.” She further added, “I knew she was quite capable. But she needed to believe it.” 

However, with the help of therapy, the 16-year-old Simone learned how to shut the clamors and she rose to the occasion. The gymnast conceded, “I’d rather regret the risk that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all.” With this, she began winning everything in sight. The 4 feet 8 inch dynamo first added 10 World Championships gold medals on her wall of fame, and then she made it to the ‘Final Five’ team of the 2016 Rio Olympics. The spectators at the Arena Olímpica do Rio cheered out loud when the gymnast won 3 individual golds and 1 team gold. 

‘Courage to Soar: Body in Motion, Life in Balance”- was her next destination. An autobiographical account, where she penned every nook and cranny of how her childhood shaped her journey to become the best version of herself. Then, the girl, who once was struggling with self-esteem at 16, became a woman with a 2nd Olympic qualification at the age of 24. 

Simone Biles Rising: From Tokyo Olympics’ turmoil to Paris Olympics’ redemption

The second time when Biles encountered an episode with critics was in 2021. After a failed Amanar vault, she withdrew from All-Around finals at the Tokyo Olympics. As she walked out of the Ariake Gymnastics Center in the wake of ‘twisties’, spectators called her “quitter.” Many were even speculating that Simone would retire after the Tokyo Games. 

Denying those retirement conjectures, Simone Biles returned to her beloved arena. After two years of hiatus to focus on her mental well-being, the gymnast made a comeback to elite gymnastics at the 2023 U.S. Classic. It was the full circle moment for her, as she competed in the NOW arena in Hoffman Estates – the same venue where she participated in her first U.S. Classic back in 2013.

Ever since then, she has been a force to be reckoned with. First, she added 6th World All-Around title in her already impressive resume, then she aced the Yurchenko Double Pike routine in Antwerp such that the routine got named as Biles II. But wait! – there is more! 

At the 2024 US Olympic trials, the 27-year-old embodied her journey through her floor exercise. For this, she chose Taylor Swift x Beyonce mix. Revealing the message behind her opening pass, the 7x Olympic medalist’s choreographer Gregory Milan stated that “she is breaking the barriers a bit of gymnastics to say: ‘It’s over now, I’m not a little girl anymore. After everything I’ve gone through, I’m now a businesswoman, I’m a married woman, I’m a happy woman.’”

Then, the most awaited moment arrived in full glory. On 30th June, as the 2024 US Olympic Trial finals concluded, her name was being announced at the Target Center. Donning a white tracksuit, all while holding a bouquet in her hands, she entered the arena, waving at the crowd. Everybody knew in that moment, Simone Biles has made it to her 3rd Olympic run. She is going to Paris. In Milan’s words, Biles proved that she is the “big boss of gymnastics,” and the “American dream who made it.” She is now a 3rd time Olympian!