Simone Biles, known for her incredible athleticism and success in gymnastics, has recently shared that despite her intense training schedule, there are some exercises she prefers to avoid. Ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, Biles revealed to Jimmy Fallon that she trained seven hours daily, with four days involving twice-a-day workouts. This intense regimen included strength training, circuit training, and endurance exercises, all of which are essential for mastering skills like the Yurchenko Double Pike vault.
However, Biles has admitted to struggling with certain types of workouts, including Pilates. On December 4, after returning to the gym following her Olympic triumphs, Biles shared on Instagram that she would never attend another Pilates class. She described her experience humorously, saying, “It’s too hard.” Pilates, a low-impact workout focusing on flexibility, strength, and spinal mobility, has its benefits for gymnasts, as it helps with body awareness and injury prevention. Despite these advantages, Biles finds the exercises too challenging, having previously admitted to struggling through an elite-level Pilates class in 2020. Despite her flexibility and strength, Pilates remains one workout she’s not keen on repeating.
Her dislike for Pilates doesn’t stem from her age, but rather from her personal experience with it. Interestingly, Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, enjoys Pilates and has supported her in doing it together during their downtime. Biles mentioned that while she found Pilates difficult, she did enjoy it, though she prefers other forms of exercise.
Additionally, Biles has also shared her experiences with other difficult exercises, like swimming and cross-training. She recalled swimming almost a mile twice a week and biking 10 miles outside during some of her training sessions. These cross-training exercises, while challenging, helped her build strength and endurance, especially for gymnastics.
Though Biles is unsure about her future in gymnastics, having hinted that the 2028 Olympics might be her last, Pilates could still play a role in her training if she decides to return. Regardless of her decision, her husband’s continued support will play a big part in whatever path she chooses.