Mohamed Magdy  

40 i

Simone Biles has nothing left to prove to herself

The greatest American gymnast to ever live – and one with a strong case to call herself the greatest of all time – came to Paris last week in a strange spot.

She’s the most decorated gymnast ever. She’s a world-famous superstar. She’s changed the profile of her sport at home and abroad. And she’s changed the way people around the world talk about mental health, both in sports and in everyday life.

Biles returned to competition in triumphant fashion in 2023, but she was still a bit of an unknown. One question hovered over her: after her shocking withdrawal from competitions in the 2020 Olympics, could she ever possibly be as good as she was before Tokyo?

After five intense, high-pressure, gold-medal competitions at the Bercy Arena in Paris, Biles answered that question emphatically: no – she was better.

Maybe the medal haul wasn’t quite the same as Biles’ stunning performance in Rio de Janeiro at age 19. But 27-year-old Simone Biles physically looked like her all-conquering self in all but one of the competitions she entered and mentally she was stronger than she could have ever imagined.

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