Simone Biles once expressed her admiration for tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams, stating that she wished to be friends with them while acknowledging the impact they’ve had on women’s sports. The eight-time Olympic gold medalist credited the Williams sisters for inspiring her as a black athlete and contributing to her career.
Biles continued to advance the presence of black athletes in women’s sports, particularly in gymnastics, when she won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Before her, Gabby Douglas had made history by becoming the first black gymnast to win Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games. Since her Olympic debut, Biles has dominated the gymnastics world, becoming one of the most decorated gymnasts with 11 Olympic medals and 30 world championship medals.
In a previous appearance on *Red Table Talk*, Biles discussed how the Williams sisters impacted her career, saying, “The impact Venus and Serena Williams have made, not only in sports but in life, has had a huge influence on my entire career. They’ve paved the way for black athletes, especially black women. I can’t thank them enough.” Biles expressed her gratitude for having them as role models, even adding that while she wished to be friends with them, she was mostly just a big fan. She recalled meeting them on separate occasions and being struck by how tall they were.
Recently, Biles had the opportunity to meet Serena Williams’ daughter, Olympia, during her Gold Over America Tour when the Williams family attended one of the events. A photo of Biles with the seven-year-old Olympia showed their heights were almost similar. Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams’ husband, shared moments from their meeting on social media, thanking Biles for making their daughter’s month. He posted about the fun they had at the event, buying merchandise, and even trying to make pancakes in the shape of Olympia wearing a new leotard, humorously admitting that it was a challenge.
Biles also shared a picture of the tour participants with Serena and her family, honoring Serena as the greatest of all time.
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