Simone Biles once reflected on an emotional conversation with her brother, Ron, following a heartbreaking national championship setback. Despite her remarkable career, she has faced challenges along the way.
In 2011, at the Visa National Championships, which served as the selection event for the junior national team, Biles competed in all events and earned 108.100 points, finishing 14th. However, only the top 13 gymnasts were chosen for the national team, leaving Biles just one spot short.
This disappointment weighed on her, and in her 2016 autobiography, Courage to Soar, Biles recalled a supportive phone call with her brother. He encouraged her to use the setback as motivation and reassured her that her time would come. Ron reminded her of how close she had been and emphasized that she should not be too hard on herself.
“You can use this as motivation to go into the gym and train even harder,” Biles recalled her brother telling her. “‘Coming in at number fourteen means you’re almost there! Maybe it’s just not your time yet, but trust me, your day will come because you’re that good. But maybe this is your year to get better.'”
Biles also shared another piece of his advice:
“No matter what, all of us are just so proud of you, and you need to stop being so hard on yourself. So go ahead and take your shower, and when you’re done, promise me, no more tears.”
Although she did not make the national team on her first attempt, Biles would go on to dominate gymnastics, securing a record nine national championships—the most in U.S. history—with her latest title in 2024.
In addition to her national success, Biles made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she became the oldest American gymnast to win a gold medal. She triumphed in the all-around event, defeating Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and her U.S. teammate, Suni Lee.
With 11 Olympic medals and 30 world championship medals, Simone Biles stands as the most decorated American gymnast of all time.