Her remark about her patron saint was part of a list in an August 9 article about Biles posted by the magazine online with the headline, “25 Things You Don’t Know About Me”.
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“I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps”, she said. I want to be an inspiration, but I would like there to be a day when it is not ‘Simone the black swimmer’.
Simone Biles already owned three consecutive world titles and four US national championships before she arrived in Rio. Her father left and young Simone bounced back and forth from her mother’s house to foster homes. Despite the odds – going head to head with the best gymnasts on the world – she exceeded them all. Clearly, Simone is not only showing off her world-class athleticism and unmatchable power, but she’s showcasing her smarts at the Rio games.
As well as being the first to win three consecutive all-around world titles last October, she has won more world gold medals – 10 – than any other female gymnast in history. We honor them, alongside two other recent Team USA medal winners, in today’s #POCMedalWatch. Biles will compete vault on Sunday, beam on Monday and will try to dethrone Raisman on floor Tuesday.
No one goes in thinking they can beat Simone, teammate Aly Raisman said after winning the all around silver. The major factor will be her first vault. “After the tiebreak of 2012 it was very heartbreaking and now coming back and finally having that redemption after four years of working so hard and five times of trying in the all around final at world championships and the Olympics, it’s really special to finally be on the podium”, she said.
Biles, 19, would not reveal where she is storing her medals, although she did say she allowed her family members to pose with them around their necks. Biles could continue to work out 20 hours a week, attend high school and eventually become a college gymnast or she could explore the elite level, a move that included more intensive training and being home schooled.
Full of competitive fire, Biles also seems devoid of nerves once she gets in front of a crowd.
We didn’t know that she was a gymnast.
Then again, doing things gymnastics has never seen is what Biles does best. I’m sure she could feel the love from the arena for all she’s brought to the sport. I just have two Olympic gold medals now. Mustafina came out a hair higher, leaving Raisman in fourth.
Over the past four major global competitions, the runner-up’s score was gotten higher in all but one and the average score of all participants has increased in each meet.
“Her coach, Mihai Brestyan, told her “‘just said ignore everyone, ‘” she said.
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Yet the photograph she posted with Simone Manuel on Friday likely has more significance than most, for two athletes who made their mark on the Games just hours apart and delighted the nation in the process.
