Times change and so do the priorities and notions of people. Back in the day, gymnastics had a set pattern. Imbibed in the minds of people was an image that represented the so-called ‘perfect’ gymnast. Skinny, blonde, and pale. However, trying to fit in the box, while many gymnasts flourished, a majority of them suffered. Fortunately, as time started to roll, the traditional orthodox belief slowly began to yield. 

Surprisingly, if those beliefs still prevailed, the world would not have gotten a Simone Biles. For none of her attributes checked the stereotypical boxes. Simone was black and neither was she the average tall girl. Thus, Laurent Landi knew right away that he had to be flexible with Biles. Speaking about the same in an interview with Associated Press, Laurent Landi stated, “We’re not always right.. If you do your own way all the time, you will hurt the majority of the athletes. Maybe one will survive and will be an amazing person, amazing athlete but the (other) 90 percent, they will be broken. … We had to adjust to Simone, otherwise we would have broke her.”

Well, being flexible with Simone Biles was not a new concept for the Landis. Having herself shot to gymnastics fame while ticking all the boxes, Cecile Landi was well aware of the demons of the stereotypes. She was the first-hand witness of how the stereotypical practices snatched the dreams of several budding gymnasts. 

Giving a similar account, Simone Biles, in her Netflix documentary, ‘Simone Biles: Rising’, detailed her experience in Karolyi Ranch. Biles mentioned that gymnasts were subjected to extreme training, and verbal abuse and were even deprived of sizable portions of meals. Speaking with CBS’ 60 minutes back in 2021, Biles stated, “There would have been nights where we would, like break into the cafeteria and go get food.” Biles also called out the unwanted obsession with beauty standards in an X update in 2020. She said, “In gymnastics, as in many other professions, there is a growing competition that has nothing to do with performance itself… I’m talking about beauty.”

Biles abandoned the Karolyi Ranch just in time to be paired with Aimee Boorman. Following an eleven-year-long triumphant journey, Biles joined the Landis in 2017. When Simone Biles first came to train with the Landis, she was a bubbly teenager. Engrossed in the discipline, Biles simply refused to leave the gym- a typical champion’s mentality. However, with time, the dynamics changed and Biles was no longer the medal-winning machine she once was. Revising the mantra, “It’s not the athlete that needs to adjust to the coaches… The coaches need to adjust the athletes and the athlete’s abilities.”, the Landis accommodated Biles accordingly. Surely, the 27-year-old is still at the apex of her game. But along with that, she is now also a caring wife, whose emotions are intertwined with that of her better half, Jonathan Owens. 

Simone Biles found solace in Jonathan Owens as nasty criticisms threatened to char her spirits

Simone Biles had a tough time explaining to people what exactly transpired with her in Tokyo. Her body was perfectly alright while her mind was bleeding. Labeled as the ‘Quitter of the year’ Biles could not look past the shadowy nights that threatened and swelled to Gargantuan heights. With her mind drowning in the abysmal void of insecurity, Simone Biles found solace in her husband Jonathan Owens. 

Reflecting on her dark past, Simone Biles briefed about how Jonathan Owens stood as a pillar. Biles stated in her Netflix documentary, “Post-Tokyo, Jonathan was just like… ‘You’ll get back to where you were,’ and made sure I was staying on top of my training. He was making sure I was going to my therapy sessions and was trying to do as much as he could, without kind of being bossy, but he was really just like a shoulder to lean on because he saw those dark times after Tokyo.” Biles also added that drawing inspiration from her, Owens too, opted for therapies to better her efficiency in his game. 

Thus, when Simone Biles stands with the shining leotard in Paris, the world will know her story of defeating the ‘twisties’. But what will remain silent are tales of her resilient grind over countless demons. They might not have necessarily been visible, but Simone Biles now can surely flaunt those scars as a testament to her mammoth triumph as the world bows to the modern queen of gymnastics.