Simone Biles: A Testament to Resilience at the Paris Olympics
PARIS — In a packed post-meet press conference, Manila Esposito, who clinched a bronze medal on the balance beam, appeared overwhelmed, like a deer caught in the headlights. As she began to speak, her voice barely rose above a whisper. Sensing her struggle, Simone Biles leaned over to adjust Esposito’s microphone, offering a reassuring nod that she was ready to proceed. Later, when a question was directed at Alice D’Amato, Esposito’s teammate, it took D’Amato a moment to gather her thoughts. The moderator began to prompt her, but Biles gently reminded everyone that the translation process takes a bit of time.
Every now and then, we are reminded of the fact that Simone Biles is 27 years old. This is far from her first rodeo; she possesses an abundance of experience, understanding the nuances of microphones, translations, triumphs, and even the occasional setback. Biles began her international gymnastics career over a decade ago as a braces-wearing 16-year-old, too young to drive and not old enough to drink when she competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Now, she is married, yet even before she finished competing in Paris, the questions about Los Angeles 2028 began to surface. Initially, she offered a vague response, expressing that it would be lovely to compete on home soil but also acknowledging the reality that age is not merely a number. “I’m old,” she said with a laugh.
Later, she took to social media, expressing her frustration: “You guys really gotta stop asking athletes what’s next after they win a medal at the Olympics,” she tweeted, adding, “Let us soak up the moment we’ve worked our whole lives for.”
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This sentiment encapsulates a larger issue, particularly in Biles’ case, where the focus should shift to appreciating her accomplishments rather than anxiously speculating about what comes next. We often become spoiled, desperately clinging to the greatness we may have taken for granted. Biles is a constant in the world of sports, a near-sure thing. Neither age nor injuries, nor the weight of abuse and mental health challenges, have been able to defeat her. She continues to return, leaving us to wonder: What if this is the end?
It very well could be. Biles’ coach, Cecile Landi, is set to leave the program to take the head coaching position at the University of Georgia, while Laurent, Biles’ husband and co-coach, will follow in a year after their daughter graduates from college. This transition could be seen as an ideal moment to step away. She has nothing left to prove, yet that notion has been upended for Biles since she grappled with her mental health issues during the Tokyo Olympics.
In Tokyo, Biles was hampered by the infamous “twisties,” forcing her to confront the underlying causes of her mental health struggles. She bravely spoke out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Larry Nassar, questioning the role of USA Gymnastics during Senate hearings. She explored her own motivations, a daunting task for anyone, and bravely acknowledged that she had lost her passion for the sport, instead of merely responding to external pressures. In a bold move, Biles took a year off from gymnastics, a sport where time is notoriously unforgiving, to focus on healing.
“To do the work, the personal work to be here and to perform, it’s amazing,” Laurent Landi remarked. “It just shows how tough the mind is, and that if you heal it properly, you can be very, very successful.”
Despite facing challenges, Biles was far from fading into obscurity. Throughout the week in Paris, she dealt with a persistent calf injury, sustained prior to the trials and aggravated during the qualifications. Doctors wrapped her leg for the duration of the competition. While Biles downplayed the seriousness of the injury, jokingly chastising reporters for their curiosity, Landi acknowledged that managing the pain was the primary concern. “It was bothering her, of course,” he said. “Was it impacting her performances? I don’t think so.”
Landi smirked, as if to say, “You tell me.” With four medals — three of them gold — Biles outperformed all but 22 countries participating in Paris thus far.
The final day was meant to be a triumphant celebration, a victory lap and farewell. Instead, it unveiled Biles’ vulnerability. She was fatigued after competing in four of the five possible days. Mentally drained, she felt the weight of righting the ship after Tokyo. The event finals also felt off-kilter. Instead of the usual music accompanying the gymnasts’ performances, the Bercy Arena remained eerily silent, akin to a church, with spectators quietly observing, almost discouraging reactions when gymnasts executed skills flawlessly on the beam.
“We asked several times if we could have some music or background noise,” Biles said. “So I’m not really sure what happened there.”
These observations are not excuses; they are the realities of competition. The beam turned into a high-stakes challenge, with medals awarded to those who managed to stay on. Three gymnasts, including Sunisa Lee, fell during their routines, while two others struggled with significant balance issues. Yet when Biles missed her landing on a back layout step-out and fell, the audience gasped in disbelief. Later, after the competition concluded, a mother in line at the Bercy Arena concessions lamented to her young daughter, “I feel so bad for Simone.” The young girl, her eyes wide with innocence, replied, “She fell,” as if she had witnessed a masterpiece marred or a symphony disrupted.
Regardless of what Simone Biles chooses to pursue next, her legacy is firmly established in the realms of gymnastics excellence and, more importantly, as a beacon of leadership and courage off the mat.
In her defense, the girl couldn’t have been more than eight years old, and in her short life, Biles has exemplified Olympic perfection. Until this beam final, Biles had competed in nine different Olympic events throughout her career, including team, all-around, and event finals, medaling in every single one and securing gold in seven.
Then, her very humanity struck again. Just two hours after her beam mishap, Biles returned for the floor exercise, an event she has never lost at either the Olympics or World Championships. However, during warm-ups, she landed awkwardly, appearing to aggravate that same calf injury. Briefly tended to, Biles went out and executed her first tumbling pass, seemingly restoring order to the universe. Yet, during her second and fourth passes, Biles stepped out of bounds twice, losing crucial tenths of a point, ultimately placing second to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.
It’s worth noting that she faltered on two moves that bear her name, skills that no one else even attempts. This is Biles’ definition of failure.
But if you ask Biles, her definition of success transcends medals and accolades; it lies in the very essence of who she is and who she has become. “Putting your mental health first, and taking time for yourself, whether you’re in sports or not, it’s about longevity,” she emphasized. “Longevity in sports, specifically, but also just for a better, healthier lifestyle.”
Not far from where Biles competed, a woman strolled along a Parisian sidewalk, accompanied by her friendly Australian Shetland sheepdog. In a moment of connection, she halted to chat. Although she was French, she was in Paris to enjoy the Olympics. Upon learning that her new dog friends were from the U.S., she immediately expressed her admiration for the “American gymnast.” She had watched Biles’ documentary on Netflix and praised her for opening the conversation surrounding mental health.
“I am not an athlete,” she noted, yet she felt grateful that Biles made it acceptable to “talk about” personal struggles. “I appreciate that.”
If this marks the conclusion of Biles’ competitive journey, it is essential for all of us to appreciate the indelible impact she has made.
(Top photo of Simone Biles with her gold medal from the vault competition: Tom Weller / VOIGT / GettyImages)
