Publications
Partners
There is one name that will be mentioned almost as many times as Usain Bolt’s during this year’s Olympics: Simone Biles.
The 19-year-old American gymnast is expected to walk away with as many as six gold medals in Rio de Janeiro. She has already written herself into the history books by holding the most medals – 10 of them gold – for female gymnastics. She has been unchallenged as world champion for the past three years.
Although Biles met the qualification to take part in the 2012 London Olympics, she was three months shy of the eligible age when the tournament began. But that disappointment did not stop her from dominating the sport like no other gymnast has done in decades.
The Guardian described her as “the best athlete in America today”.
Guardian sports writer Bryan Armen Graham – who has followed her career closely, but only got to see her perform live when he went to interview her in June – compared her with basketball great LeBron James and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
“To behold this brilliance in the flesh after years of tracking her ascent on TV and YouTube is stirring enough, though surely it will pale in comparison to the moment when she makes her date with destiny in Rio ... Already a superstar in the parochial world of gymnastics, Biles will soon be a household name,” wrote Graham.
She has fascinated gymnastics fans and agnostics alike with her complicated and almost superhuman moves.
Gymnastics legend and 1984 Olympic gold medallist Mary Lou Retton told CNN: “Just when we thought we were at the physical limit of the sport, here comes Simone Biles. She’s the best I’ve ever seen.”
Even before her first Olympics, Biles counted global brands among her sponsors. She has Nike, Hershey’s, Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s, United Airlines, Coca-Cola and GK Elite Sportswear already in the bag.
Biles’ road to greatness is as inspiring as her moves.
Born to a drug-addicted and alcoholic mother, she grew up in foster homes. She was discovered by accident during a school trip at the age of six when she imitated gymnasts she was watching. According to reports, she returned to her foster home with a letter from the gym management asking her to enrol.
Today, when she when she makes her Olympic leap, she will take another big step towards sporting immortality. – Staff reporter
