Simone Biles: How She Became the Most Decorated U.S. Gymnast of All Time

Simone Biles has solidified her status as the greatest gymnast in American history, and arguably the world, by leading the U.S. women's gymnastics team to victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This monumental achievement earned her an eighth Olympic medal adding to her 30 World Championship medals, making her the most decorated American gymnast of all time.

Breaking Records and Making History: Simone Biles's Path to Becoming the Most Decorated U.S. Gymnast

Simone Biles’ journey to this historic moment has been marked by her extraordinary talent, resilience, and commitment to mental health which has inspired athletes worldwide.

Three years ago, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team experienced an unexpected second-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics after Biles withdrew from the final to prioritize her mental well-being.

Dealing with the "twisties," a condition where the mind and body fall out of sync, Biles made the brave decision to step back, sparking a global conversation about the importance of mental health in elite sports. Simone Biles' dedication to mental health has remained steadfast.

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Simone Biles: The Most Decorated U.S. Gymnast of All Time

On July 30th, 2024, just hours before competing in the team final, Biles started her day with therapy, telling her therapist she felt "calm and ready". This preparation paid off as she nailed her opening vault, a Cheng vault, with precision. Reflecting on her performance, Biles admitted, “I was relieved... no flashbacks or anything.”

How Many Olympic Medals Has Simone Biles Won in Total?

This victory not only marked her eighth Olympic medal but also placed her ahead of Shannon Miller as the all-time American leader in gymnastics. Biles now has 5 Olympic Gold medals, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze Olympic Medals.

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS 🇺🇸🥇

The women of @USAGym are champions once again! #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/UR4cxDaPna

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 30, 2024

Coupled with her 30 World Championship medals, Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast of all time.

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GOLDEN GIRLS
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Forever a part of the US Gymnastics Legacy 🌟@Simone_Biles @jadeacarey @sunisalee_ @ChilesJordan & Hezley Rivera #Olympics pic.twitter.com/SdLhWiMLnA

— Aimee Boorman (@Salto_Coach) July 31, 2024

Biles’ second Olympic team gold medal felt different from her first. “In 2016, we were destined to win gold... Now that I’m much older and we have so much more experience, we’re out here really having fun and enjoying what we’re doing,” she said. [Source: Olympics]

The camaraderie and enjoyment shared with teammates Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and newcomer Hezly Rivera were evident as they performed together, leading Team USA to their fourth-ever gold medal in the women’s team event.

The Unstoppable Rise of Simone Biles: Overcoming Controversy and Becoming the Most Decorated U.S. Gymnast

To fully appreciate Simone Biles' remarkable achievement as the most decorated U.S. gymnast of all time, it's important to explore various aspects of her career and the broader context of American gymnastics.

Simone's Background: How Old is Simone Biles?

Simone's full name is Simone Arianne Biles Owens. She was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, and is now 27 years old. Simone is married to Jonathan Owens and the two tied the knot last year. She specializes in artistic gymnastics and is regarded as one of the best gymnasts of all time.

Simone has won Olympic Gold in the 'all-around', vault, floor, and team events. She's also won a Bronze in the balance beam event. Simone broke the record on Tuesday for being the oldest to win in the team event at 26 years and 166 days old.

Overcoming Controversy: Proving the 'Haters' Wrong

Simone has received some criticism in her day with a recent instance from former teammate MyKayla Skinner. Simone is also a black gymnast and that also comes with its fair share of hate. Despite all that, she has elevated herself to greatness.

Who said Simone Biles had a lack of talent?

The notion that Simone Biles lacked talent was indirectly suggested by her former teammate, MyKayla Skinner. After the Olympic Trials, Skinner posted a now-deleted YouTube video where she expressed concerns about the depth and talent in U.S. gymnastics, saying, “besides Simone, I feel like the talent and depth isn't what it used to be,” and added that “a lot of girls don't work as hard, and don't have the work ethic.”

After Simone won gold on Tuesday, MyKayla blocked her on Instagram.

What is Simone Biles famous for?

Simone Biles is renowned for being the most decorated gymnast in American history. Her eighth Olympic medal, earned at the Paris 2024 Olympics, underscored her status as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in gymnastics. This achievement made her the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history, surpassing Shannon Miller.

Simone is the most decorated gymnast of all when not only considering the Olympics. On top of her 8 Olympic medals, she has 30 World Championship medals. This makes her not only America's most decorated gymnast but also the most decorated gymnast in the world.

How old was Simone Biles in her first Olympics?

Simone Biles was 19 years old when she participated in her first Olympic Games at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She was a member of the “Final Five” team, which included Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez, Gabby Douglas, and Madison Kocian. Her performance at the Rio Games established her as a dominant force in gymnastics.

Who called Team USA gymnastics lazy?

The critique of Team USA gymnastics as lacking work ethic came from MyKayla Skinner. Prior to the Paris Olympics, Skinner made comments suggesting that some gymnasts, interpreted by many as referring to the 2024 team members, lacked "work ethic." This comment seemingly prompted a response from Biles, who has continued to demonstrate unparalleled dedication to her sport.

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Pioneering Female Gymnasts in U.S. Olympic History

America has produced some of the most iconic female gymnasts in Olympic history, each contributing significantly to the sport.

Mary Lou Retton made history at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics by becoming the first American woman to win an all-around gold medal, inspiring a generation of gymnasts.

Shannon Miller, the most decorated U.S. gymnast before Biles, earned seven Olympic medals between the 1992 and 1996 Games, including two golds in Atlanta, and was a key member of the "Magnificent Seven," the first U.S. team to win gold.

Nastia Liukin won the all-around gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, adding four other medals and showcasing her elegant style.

Gabby Douglas made headlines at the 2012 London Olympics by becoming the first African-American woman to win the all-around title, also contributing to team gold.

Aly Raisman, a two-time Olympian, led the U.S. team to gold in 2012 and 2016 and won individual medals for her powerful floor routines.

These gymnasts not only achieved individual success but also helped elevate the status of American women’s gymnastics on the global stage, paving the way for future champions like Simone Biles.

Who has the Most Olympic Medals Female in Gymnastics?

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast but there are those with the most Olympic medals. Larisa Latynina, of the Soviet Union, is the female gymnast with the most Olympic medals and the most decorated Olympic gymnast. Latynina has 9 Gold, 5 Silver, and 4 Bronze medals. Simone comes in 6th or 7th place when only looking at the Olympics and not considering her 30 World Championship medals.

The following is a list of female gymnasts with the most Olympic medals.

Click on each to expand

Who has the Most Olympic Medals Male in Gymnastics?

For men, Nikola Andrianov of the Soviet Union is the male gymnast with the most Olympic medals. He has 7 Gold, 5 Silver, and 3 Bronze medals.

The following is a list of male athletes with the most Olympic medals.

Click on each to expand

Congratulations Simone! You Deserve It

A big congratulations to Simone Biles. She still has four more categories to compete in for the Paris 2024 Olympics and we know she'll kick it out of the park. Her story and success mean so much to millions of gymnasts worldwide, who look up to her as an inspiration.

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Simone Biles’ incredible achievements are not just a testament to her athletic prowess but also her resilience, mental fortitude, and leadership within the sport of gymnastics. As she continues to break records and inspire future generations, her legacy as the most decorated U.S. gymnast of all time is firmly established.

Update (6/8/2024): Simone Biles Wins 3 Gold and 1 Silver in the Paris 2024 Olympics

Simone Biles has added to her medal collection after she won 3 Gold medals and one Silver medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Biles won Gold medals in the women's artistic individual all-around, the women's artistic team all-around, and women's vault competitions. She also won a Silver medal in the women's artistic floor, totaling her Olympic Gold medals at 8, her Olympic Silver medals at 2, and her Olympic Bronze medals at 2. In total, Simone Biles now has 11 Olympic medals.

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