In January 2024, Simone Biles, the 23 times World Champion, told Vanity Fair, “If I don’t make it to Paris, it won’t absolutely crush me.” This statement seemed to suggest a certain level of detachment from the idea of competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
However, as June approached, it became increasingly evident that Biles was on track to secure a spot on the Olympic team. Her outstanding performances throughout the season, marked by a stellar record of sweeping medals across all apparatuses, demonstrated her unparalleled skill and dominance in gymnastics.
A resurfaced social media video revealed a younger Simone Biles, aged 22, expressing doubts about her ability to compete at a high level in 2024 due to concerns about her age. Despite her remarkable achievements, she had voiced uncertainty about her future in the sport. However, her continued excellence and unwavering dedication have proven that age is merely a number for this exceptional athlete.
Simone Biles had the whole stadium shook 😳
The 4x Olympic gold medalist takes the floor at her third U.S. Olympic Team Trials June 27- 30 on @nbc and @peacock.#USAGTrials24 | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/1imCkHJV9m
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) June 13, 2024
Simone shrugs off “too old” concerns
The contrast between Biles’ past doubts and her current success is highlighted in a recent viral tweet by @ILoovEnglish. The tweet features a younger Simone Biles expressing her reservations about competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The caption reads, “2019 Interview where Simone Biles is asked about competing at the #Paris2024 Olympics she says ‘I’ll be pretty old, maybe in the stands but probably not on the floor competing.’ AH! The old Simone would be happy to know she’s still the GOAT and the best gymnast in the world.” This tweet serves as a reminder of Biles’ journey and the evolution of her mindset as an athlete.
Despite her previous concerns about age, Biles’s current trajectory indicates that she is far from being “too old” to compete at the highest level. Her continued excellence has solidified her status as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.
In conclusion, while there were doubts expressed by Biles in the past about her participation in the 2024 Olympics, her exceptional performances and unwavering dedication have proven otherwise. As she continues to defy expectations and showcase her unparalleled skill, it is evident that age is not a limiting factor for this extraordinary athlete.
😂 2019 Interview where Simone Biles is asked about competing at the #Paris2024 Olympics she says "I'll be pretty old, maybe in the stands but probably not on the floor competing" AH! The old Simone would be happy to know she's still the GOAT and the best gymnast in the world 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6zPIh7ZpwL
— Liviefromparis 🇫🇷🤸♀️🎾 (@ILoovEnglish) June 12, 2024