Simone Biles on first all-Black Olympic gymnastics podium: “We knew the impact it would make." - Exclusive
Superstar U.S. gymnast Simone Biles is used to breaking barriers.
Monday (5 August) at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, she had help from two of her friends: Brazilian Rebeca Andrade and teammate Jordan Chiles.
Andrade, Biles and Chiles captured gold, silver and bronze in the women’s floor final. It was the first Olympic gymnastics podium with three Black women.
“As soon as we were standing there, me and Jordan looked at each other,” Biles told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview. “We were kind of all cherishing that together because we knew how special it would be, and we knew the impact that it would make on all the little girls around the world that are trying to do what we’re doing, just for them to know that it’s possible.
“It’s setting those standards, paving the way,” she continued, “It’s like, we did it. We’re so excited because this doesn’t happen, so we’re so excited because this doesn’t happen.”
Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama also saluted the three women.
"I’m still not over this beautiful moment of sisterhood and sportsmanship! You can just feel the love shining through these ladies. Congrats Rebeca, Jordan and Simone!" she said in a post on Twitter.
The podium also represented 20 Olympic medals with Biles owning 11, Andrade six and Chiles three.
Both Americans have long espoused their respect for Andrade, the 25-year-old who has overcome three ACL tears in 2015, 2017 and 2019 to become her nation’s most decorated Olympian ever.
Biles and Chiles bowed to Andrade as she stepped onto the podium, a gesture Biles says her younger self might have expected.
“She would probably laugh and be like, ‘You’re so ridiculous,’” she said. “But that is the most Simone and Jordan thing you guys could ever have done, so she would be very happy that the sportsmanship was there.”