Simone Biles isn't just talking the talk. Three years ago, the U.S. achieved a surprising second place at the Tokyo Olympics, despite being heavily favored.
Biles withdrew from the final after a failed two-and-a-half twisting vault, choosing to prioritize her mental health amidst struggles with the 'twisties,' a condition where body and mind lose synchronization.
Her decision ignited a worldwide discussion about athletes prioritizing mental health in competitive sports.
Since that pivotal moment, she has remained steadfast in her commitment, as evidenced by her performance on the morning of Tuesday, July 30th. Just hours before she and her Tokyo teammates—Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and newcomer Hezly Rivera—secured Team USA's fourth-ever gold medal in the women's team event at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, she had continued to live true to that defining moment.
"Today started off on a high note with my therapy session this morning, which was really exciting," Biles shared. "I let my therapist know that I was feeling calm and prepared."
Her initial routine in the bustling Bercy Arena, where fans donned red, white, and blue, made it clear. Biles raced down the vaulting runway to kick off her team's final, a moment reminiscent of Tokyo. However, this time, she executed her Cheng vault flawlessly.
"Once I completed the vault, I felt a sense of relief," she confessed. "I thought to myself, 'Phew!' since there were no flashbacks or anything like that. It was truly a huge relief."
"As soon as I landed the vault, I thought, 'We are definitely going to do this.'"
For Biles and Team USA, the journey to the 27-year-old's eighth Olympic medal was seamless, allowing her to surpass Shannon Miller and become the all-time American leader in gymnastics.
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."
Later, she remarked, "It felt somewhat unique. We were incredibly thrilled, had a great time, enjoyed each other's company out there, and simply performed our gymnastics."