Simone Biles has made history by becoming the most decorated Olympic gymnast in US history, now residing in Texas. Despite a tweaked calf, Biles led the women’s gymnastics team to victory in Paris on Tuesday.
In yesterday’s final, Team USA clinched gold thanks to the high-flying floor routine of the legendary gymnast, bringing her total Olympic medal count to eight, with five of them being gold. Biles was tied with Shannon Miller, the star of the 1996 Atlanta Games, at seven Olympic medals before this incredible win.
In an interview with CNN, Miller, who is 47, expressed her admiration for Simone’s team and their accomplishments. She went on to say that Simone’s eighth medal is not just inspiring for young people, but for all of us to strive towards our goals and dream big.
At just 27 years old, Biles has already earned an incredible 38 world championship and Olympic medals. And it’s clear that she’s not done yet.
According to an interview with USA Today, Biles, who holds the record for the most decorated gymnast in history, does not keep track of her medal count.
Biles humbly admitted that she was not entirely sure about the exact number of her impressive collection, saying “Honestly, I would’ve had to Google that.” She stated that she does not keep count or track of her stats, but simply focuses on doing what she loves. Despite her astounding achievements, Biles expressed that she may not fully comprehend the extent of her success until she eventually retires from the sport, stating “It’s amazing now that I hear it, but I don’t think I’ll truly understand the depth of it until I walk away from the sport.”
Biles has made a significant impact on the gymnastics world that goes beyond her impressive medal count. In fact, she has five elements currently named after her – two on vault, two on floor exercise, and one on balance beam. If she decides to showcase the original skill she submitted to the International Gymnastics Federation before the Olympics on the uneven bars during Thursday’s competition, her number of named elements will increase to six.
On Tuesday, Biles made history at the age of 27 by becoming the oldest American woman to win an Olympic medal in gymnastics in 76 years. Furthermore, she is the oldest competitor since 1952.