Simone Biles is widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts in the world, especially after her stellar performance in Paris, where she won three gold medals and a silver. Her accomplishments have firmly established her as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in gymnastics. However, her journey to success hasn’t been without challenges. During the Paris competition, Biles had to battle a torn calf muscle and a hyperextended knee but pushed through to dominate the event. Despite her immense success, there remains one unfulfilled dream in her career: college gymnastics.
In a candid interview with Olympics.com, Biles shared that her childhood goal was to compete in college gymnastics. Specifically, she had dreamed of competing for UCLA and winning NCAA championships for the school. Despite her extraordinary international achievements, Biles never got the chance to fulfill this childhood aspiration.
Back in August 2014, Biles verbally committed to UCLA and even signed a National Letter of Intent to start her college career after the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, with the intense schedule of elite gymnastics, balancing a college life seemed unrealistic. In 2015, she made the decision to turn professional, sacrificing her eligibility to compete in NCAA gymnastics. Biles did, however, complete her education online, studying business administration at the University of the People.
Though she missed out on college gymnastics, Biles far exceeded her initial expectations, becoming a global icon in the sport. She is often compared to other sports legends like LeBron James and Serena Williams. Despite her fame and accomplishments, Biles continues to view herself as the same person who started her gymnastics journey, trying to keep her life as normal as possible. She maintains a level head, enjoying simple pleasures like pizza and spending time with her family, even as she continues to inspire millions around the world at just 27 years old.
The question remains: is her legacy incomplete without fulfilling her college gymnastics dream? While Biles has achieved far more than she initially set out to, some may wonder if she should pursue that last unfulfilled goal or focus on new challenges.