Simone Biles and Her Outstanding Return to the World Stage

Team USA star gymnast Simone Biles has been a leader and role model for the team in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her success so far is reminiscent of her gold-worthy performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics. But it has not always been such an easy ride for the world’s greatest gymnast. Here’s a complete timeline of Simone Biles’ Olympic journey, from major wins in 2016 to struggling through the 2020 Toyoko Olympics, and how she has bounced back without missing a beat for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

2016 Rio Olympics 

In the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Biles led Team USA to qualify in first place, and she qualified first in four of five events. In the finals, Biles managed to win gold in the vault finals and won gold in the all-around finals. The 2016 USA gymnastics team was nicknamed the “Final Five” for their excellent performance; Laurie Hernandez, Simone Biles, Madison Kocian, and Aly Raisman all won gold in the team finals. 

2016 Larry Nassar Case 

After many years and many unheard stories, in September of 2016, Larry Nassar, former Team USA gymnastics coach was exposed for sexual assault allegations from his athletes. In November 2016, Nassar was charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct (including one under the age of 13) which led to 50 more victims stepping forward. During his 18 years of coaching for Team USA, he sexually abused more than 500 women, including Simone Biles. 

2020 Toyoko Olympics 

Fans were caught completely off guard when Biles dropped out of several events in the 2020 Olympics. In April of 2024, Simone Biles had the opportunity to tell her side of the story while appearing on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast. In the podcast, Biles said she “was fighting demons,” in 2020, but was going to compete in the Olympics for the team. Biles further shared that things had not been going well even in training and that there was a disconnect between her and her body. Specifically, Biles talked about dealing with trauma with the “twisties.”

During the 2020 Toyoko vault event, Biles shocked the crowd and her teammates as everyone noticed that she looked uncomfortable and scared throwing a one-and-a-half during warm-ups. As she prepared to perform for a score, Biles knew she had to do a two-and-a-half because that is the skill she would be evaluated on. However, Biles knew the dangers of performing a two-and-a-half, and instead she tried her best to deliver something close. Unfortunately, she fell short. In her interview with Cooper, Biles said that her first thought after messing up was, “America hates me.” Shortly after doing her salute on the mat, she found her coach to tell her she would not be competing further. 

After dropping out of several events in the 2020 Olympics, Biles decided she needed to take a break from gymnastics. Biles was not in the gym for two years and during this time she, among others in the Final Five, had to testify against Nassar in his sexual assault trial. But Biles also says she got to explore the joys of life, and even got married during her break. 

2024 Paris Olympics Qualifications

Simone Biles qualified for the all-around finals, and vault, beam, and floor event finals for the Paris Olympics. As for the other members of the USA team, Suni Lee qualified for the all-around finals, beam, and bars while Jade Carey qualified for vault and Jordan Chiles qualified on floor. Unfortunately, the newest member Hezly Riveria will not be competing in the finals, but could still medal. 

2024 Paris Olympian Team Finals

On July 30, Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Jordan Chiles competed as the women’s USA Gymnastics Team in the team events. Biles rocked her beam routine with only a slight wobble and left the crowd raving from her floor routine and vault. Together these talented women not only got the gold but also the redemption they wanted from the 2020 Toyoko Olympics. 

What Comes Next? 

Next, Biles and teammate Lee will compete in the All-Around Finals on August 1. But for now, these ladies — and especially Olympic “veteran” Simone Biles — deserve to celebrate and enjoy their win!