Simone Biles’ journey is the dream of every aspiring gymnast. Although Biles started gymnastics at the age of 6, which is considered late by many, she has proven that success in the sport is not about when you begin but how you maximize your potential and work ethic. With her natural talent and determination, Biles has become the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) in gymnastics, accumulating an impressive 11 Olympic medals throughout her nearly 20-year career. Recognizing talent is second nature to her.
Recently, Biles met a promising young gymnast, 5-year-old Nova Davidson, whose mother believes her daughter has the potential to compete in the Olympics. “I think [the 2036 Olympics] could definitely be a possibility for her,” said Tiffany Davidson, Nova’s mother. Nova, a Level 4 gymnast from Virginia, has already started making waves in the sport. She made her television debut in early October on The Talk, a popular daytime talk show, where Biles made a surprise appearance and showed her support for the young gymnast. Biles praised Nova’s talent and recalled meeting her earlier in the year. During the appearance, Biles also presented Nova with a special leotard from her upcoming holiday collection, making Nova the first to receive the exclusive design.
Biles is currently on the Gold Over America Tour, which recently made a stop at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. The tour features top gymnasts, including Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera, who are performing in 30 arenas across the United States this fall. Nova and her mother attended the event, and Biles made a special gesture for the young gymnast by sharing an Instagram story featuring herself, Nova, and Sarita Scarlett, the owner of Pressed by Sarita, a custom apparel and accessories brand. The caption read “Hand delivered to the GOAT,” acknowledging the special moment, while Biles referred to Nova as a future “GOAT” of gymnastics. The leotard presented to Nova was designed by Sarita Scarlett herself.
Nova has shown her admiration for Biles, even wearing a t-shirt with Biles’ face during the event. Nova’s gymnastics skills came to Biles’ attention earlier this year, and the story behind it is just as remarkable. In July 2024, a video of Nova practicing gymnastics moves on a beam in her living room went viral, amassing nearly 56 million views on Instagram. The video was posted by her mother, Tiffany, a former competitive cheerleader, and her father, T.J., a former track athlete. Though both her parents are athletic, they are still amazed by Nova’s natural talent for gymnastics.
At only 5 years old, Nova is already training at Level 4, although she is not yet old enough to compete at that level. She practices 12 hours a week and is always tumbling, according to her father. In her first gymnastics meet, she placed first in the beam, bars, and floor events and finished third on the vault, with her favorite event being the floor routine.
Nova began gymnastics early, participating in her first “mommy and me” class at the age of 2, and by 3, she was ready for solo classes. Simone Biles offered Nova advice, encouraging her to always have fun and live in the moment. With Biles as her inspiration, Nova is already chasing her dreams, and she may very well be the next big name in gymnastics.
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