In a thrilling comeback to the Olympic mat, Simone Biles led her team to victory and became the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast of all time.
Three years ago, the gold-winning gymnast withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games due to mental health struggles. At the time, no one was sure whether the star athlete would return to the mat. Now, not only has Biles returned to the Olympic floor in Paris, but she has conquered it, cementing her status as the GOAT once and for all.On July 30, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team, consisting of Biles, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, and Suni Lee, took gold in the Olympic team final. This win earned Biles her eighth Olympic medal, taking former U.S. gymnast Shannon Miller’s title as the most decorated American gymnast in the history of the Olympics.
The gymnast’s most recent medal was her fifth gold. She has also won one silver and two bronze medals as an Olympic athlete. Combined with her winnings from the world championships, Biles has now won 38 medals in total.
Humble as ever, the Olympic champion told reporters that she does not pay attention to the amount of medals she has. “Honestly, I would have had to Google that,” Biles expressed on her record-breaking win. “I don’t keep count, I don’t keep stats. I just go out here and do what I’m supposed to and I’m doing what I love and enjoying it, so that’s really all that matters to me.”
“Yes, it’s amazing, now that I hear it,” the renowned athlete commented, “but I don’t think I’ll truly understand the depth of it until I walk away from the sport.”
Chellsie Memmel, technical coach for the U.S. gymnastics team, spoke with reporters on Biles’ performance, commending the Olympian’s brave return to the sport. “I think it speaks volumes of her strength,” the coach remarked. “We all knew she could do it, like that wasn’t ever a question in my mind…and it continues to just solidify her place as the greatest gymnast of all time.”
