Simone Biles' unparalleled legacy: What's at stake at Paris 2024 Olympics?
Simone Biles has already rewritten the history books, cementing herself as a legend in the artistic gymnastics.
Her name has become synonymous with excellence and pushing boundaries in every direction, and her impact stretches far beyond the competitive floor. From pioneering innovative moves that bear her name to advocating for mental health awareness, Biles' influence is global and profound.
Yet, despite her storied career, countless accolades and one zeitgeist shifting conversation starter on mental health, Biles isn't done yet.
After the trials and tribulations of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where she withdrew from the women’s team final and four subsequent individual events to priortise her mental health as she dealt with a case of the ‘twisties’, Biles has openly stated her desire for redemption.
“Our Tokyo performances weren't the best. We weren't under the best circumstances either,” Biles said at the U.S. trials. “But, I feel like we have a lot of weight on our shoulders to go out there and prove that we're better athletes, we're more mature, we're smarter, we're more consistent.
“This is definitely our redemption tour.”
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 represent not just another competition but an opportunity for Biles to reaffirm her unparalleled legacy on and off the field of play.
Biles has left her mark far beyond her sport
Beyond the five skills in the sports’ Code of Points that bear her name, the records and the medals, Paris will showcase Biles’ changed approach to her gymnastics career since the Tokyo Games where her withdrawal put the importance of mental health in sports front-and-centre.
“We’re always going to prioritize mental health,” Biles said after the recent U.S. trials. “And I think that's really nice that Tokyo gave us that opportunity to open up that stage for that talk. I think now athletes are a little bit more in tune. We trust what our gut is saying and just taking mental health a little bit more serious.”
Taking care of herself has become part of Biles legacy. It’s part of her new outlook on achievement, too.
“I think what success means to me is a little bit different than before because before everyone defined success for me, even if I had my own narrative that I wanted,” she told Olympics.com last year ahead of the World Championships. “So, now, it’s just showing up, being in a good head place, having fun out there, and whatever happens, happens.”
In addition to her focus on mental health, Biles’ legacy is one of a powerful advocate against abuse in gymnastics after she came forward in 2018 to say that she, too, had been a victim of the former U.S. team doctor’s assault.
Her bravery in speaking out – coupled with her immense platform – helped bring systemic changes within the sport.
Though not Biles' focus, records and medals are possible in Paris
The 27-year-old has never been one to hone in on the records as they’ve piled up throughout her career.
“I don’t focus on stats, I focus on routines and going out there competing and seeing how comfortable and confident I feel,” Biles said at the 2023 World Championships after taking her 23rd gold medal at the event. “23 [world titles], I mean it’s just a number.”
But while the facts and figures might not be top of mind for Biles, they will certainly feature in the minds of many throughout the competition in Paris.
Biles needs just one medal of any colour to have the most Olympic gymnastics medals of any American. She currently is tied with Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Olympian Shannon Miller.
A second win in the all-around eight years after winning her first would be unique to Biles, while two women (Larisa Latynina 1956-60 and Vera Caslvaska 1964-68) and four men (Alberto Braglia 1908-12; Viktor Chukarin 1952-56; Kato Sawao 1968-72; and Uchimura Kohei 2012-2016) own two Olympic all-around gold medals.
At 27 years old, Biles could become the oldest woman to win Olympic all-around gold since Maria Gorokhovskaya, who was 30 when she won at Helsinki 1952.
As the winner of 30 world championships and seven Olympic medals, Biles is already the most decorated gymnast of all time, and while she can’t catch Latynina’s record 18 career medals, five golds – a feat she hit at the 2019 Worlds in Stuttgart – would tie her gold medal haul at nine.