Simone Biles started her golden day with therapy at Paris 2024 Olympics
Simone Biles is doing more than just talking the talk.
Three years ago, the U.S. finished a stunning second after entering the Tokyo Olympics as heavy favourites.
It came after Biles withdrew from the final, having botched her attempt at a two-and-a-half twisting vault to priortise her mental health as she dealt with what gymnasts call the 'twisties,' where the body and mind fall out of sync.
Her decision sparked a global conversation about athletes putting mental health at the forefront of elite sport.
She's lived true to that moment since – including Tuesday morning (30 July), hours before she and Tokyo teammates Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Jade Carey, along with newcomer Hezly Rivera, won Team USA’s fourth-ever gold medal in the women’s team event at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“At the beginning of the day, I started off with therapy this morning. That was super exciting,” Biles said. “I told my therapist I was feeling calm and ready.”
Her opening rotation inside a packed Bercy Arena, full of fans decked out in red, white and blue, left no doubt about that.
Biles sprinted down the vaulting runway to open her team final, a moment that could have spurred a flashback to Tokyo. It didn't: She nailed her Cheng vault.
“After I finished vault, I was relieved,” she admitted. “I was like, ‘Phew!’ because at least no flashbacks or anything. I did feel a lot of relief.
“As soon as I landed vault, I was like, ‘Definitely were’ going to do this.’”
For Biles – and Team USA – it was smooth sailing all the way to the 27-year-old’s eighth Olympic medal, vaulting her past Shannon Miller to be the all-time American leader in the sport.
Her second Olympic team gold medal, she says, feels totally different than the first.
“I think in 2016, we were destined to win gold, everybody kind of already said we were going to win gold,” Biles reflected. “Now that I’m much older and we have so much more experience, we’re out here really having fun and enjoying what we’re doing.
“It just felt a little bit different [tonight],” she said later. “It was super exciting, we had fun, we enjoyed each other’s time out there, and we just did our gymnastics.”