Simone Biles "never imagined" that she'd win medals when she started doing gymnastics
Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles "never imagined" that she would have such success when she first took up gymnastics as a child.
Simone Biles "never imagined" that she'd win medals when she started doing gymnastics.
The American athlete is regarded as one of the greats of her sport after winning seven Olympic golds and revealed that she has "surpassed" all expectations she had during her junior gymnast days.
While accepting Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year award for 2024, Biles said: "When I started doing gymnastics when I was 6, I never imagined winning medals and everything I’ve been fortunate enough to do up until this point. I just wanted to have fun and hopefully get a college scholarship. I’ve kind of surpassed all of that, which is super exciting, but everyday I spend competing alongside my teammates is truly a gift."
Biles also had some encouraging words for the next generation of gymnasts as she urged them to keep pushing forward no matter what obstacles they face.
She said: "No matter what life may throw at you along your journey, be the best person you can be, follow your passion, and put in the work, and you know that I see the gold within all of you."
Biles revealed in an interview with the publication that she has no plans to compete at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles as she has "accomplished so much" in previous Games.
She explained: "Because I’ve accomplished so much, there’s almost nothing left to do, rather than to just be snobby and to try again and for what? I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when to be done."
Biles also admitted that she doesn't spend much time reflecting on her legacy in the sport.
She said: "I don’t think the reality has set in of what I’ve exactly done in the sport.
"I can see it, and I hear it from people, and I see a glimpse of it, but the full magnitude I don’t think I’ve realised just yet. I don’t think I’ll realise ’til maybe I retire and look back in a couple years like, Damn, she was good. Because I can see that, but I do it every day. So for me, it’s normal."
