Simone Biles reflected on her initial Olympic experience, noting that her time at the 2016 Rio Games felt much more relaxed compared to her subsequent appearances in Tokyo and Paris. In her Netflix documentary, *Simone Biles Rising Part II*, which premiered on October 25, the 27-year-old gymnast described her first Olympics as a “breeze,” saying she had no anxiety and was there simply to enjoy herself and create lasting memories.
Since competing in Rio, Biles has participated in the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, bringing her total medal count to 11, making her the most decorated Olympian in history for both men’s and women’s events. She acknowledged the high expectations she had for her debut in 2016, where she won five medals, four of them gold, realizing how rare this accomplishment is as she reflected on her journey from Rio.
During her second Olympics in Tokyo, Biles withdrew from four key events due to experiencing the “twisties,” a phenomenon that affects a gymnast’s spatial awareness. Despite this, she secured a silver medal in the team event and a bronze on the balance beam, stating, “We did the best we could with the circumstances we were given.”
Looking ahead to the 2024 Paris Games, Biles expressed excitement and confidence, feeling in a “significantly better” headspace than she had in Tokyo. She noted that her goal was to win gold in both the team and individual all-around competitions, which she ultimately achieved by earning three gold medals and one silver.
However, the competition wasn’t without its hurdles; Biles injured her calf during warm-ups for the floor exercise. Despite the injury, which she described as a significant pull, she performed well, receiving a silver medal in the floor exercise final. She also won gold in the team competition, individual all-around, and vault events during the Paris Olympics.
After the competition, former U.S. gymnast Aly Raisman recounted asking Biles how she managed to perform under such pain, to which Biles responded that she was determined not to be perceived as a quitter. Biles shared that elite athletes often push through pain, recalling an incident during warm-ups where she nearly knocked her coach off balance while trying to execute a complex maneuver.
Following the Paris Games, Biles wore a walking boot as a precaution while preparing for the “Gold Over America Tour,” which covered 30 arenas in the U.S. She assured that her calf was fine but was taking preventive measures to ensure proper recovery for the upcoming tour.