The Incredible Rise of Simone Biles

With every reason in the world not to succeed, Simone Biles has soared far above the crowds and has broken through barriers in the world.

Even though Biles is small in stature, she has become a giant in the gymnastics world and an inspiration to young women all over the world. She shows us what can be accomplished, even when faced with adversity in nearly every aspect of her life. Her rise didn’t happen overnight, although most of us only know the last few years of her story, but it began at an early age.

A Rough Start for a Youngster

Simone was born in Columbus, Ohio, to a mother who was addicted to drugs and alcohol. It’s hard to imagine what that early life was like for her and her siblings before they were taken from their mother and placed into foster care.

Eventually, Simone and her younger sister Adria were adopted by their maternal grandfather and his wife, who would raise them in Spring, Texas. This was where the story began to take a turn for the better and would be where Simone would be introduced to the world of gymnastics.

Tumbling Opened a New World

Early childhood development centers will often take field trips to various locations to expose young children to different activities and give them a look at a larger world around them. The class trip for the daycare that Simone Biles was part of was scheduled to visit a farm, but that trip was canceled due to bad weather. The teachers found an alternative and took the kids to a tumbling gym, which became a moment for Biles that changed her life. It was easy for others to see she had some tumbling skills, and she was invited to take classes after this field trip.

An Activity in Furniture Protection

Her grandparents that were raising her weren’t knowledgeable in the sport of gymnastics, but to keep Simone from bouncing off the furniture and running the house, they gave her an outlet, which was at the gymnastics gym. This is how Simone ended up in gymnastics, and it’s certainly an understandable story that is likely how many young people find their way to this sport.

Fast Forward to Serious Success

Success in gymnastics wasn’t always experienced by Simone Biles, but she has overcome the challenges of training, injury, pain, and strength to become the most decorated American gymnast in history. This accomplishment is more impressive considering women gymnasts compete in two fewer events than male gymnasts. That gives you an idea of just how impressive her accomplishments in the sport of gymnastics happen to be.

In 2019, she won her 24thand 25thmedals at the world championships, which is what per her over the top. If her story ended here, it would be a remarkable story of overcoming the odds and challenging yourself to reach new heights that you might have never thought possible, but it’s not where her story ends.

Rewriting the Record Books

Not only is Simone Biles the most decorated American gymnast in history, but she has also pushed the boundaries of the sport and broken through the supposed limitations to create movements that very few other gymnasts would ever attempt. She has performed skills in competitions that are so unique that four have been named after her, which is an amazing honor that isn’t bestowed upon very many athletes at all.

Adding this accomplishment to the list might make you think that Biles should be satisfied, but that is not the case. She stands taller than her build in the world to be an inspiration to young women everywhere.

Realizing Her Uniqueness in Gymnastics

According to Simone, when she was younger, she rarely noticed that she was a minority in the gymnastics world. Her favorite gymnasts were vault specialists Alicia Sacramone and ShawnJohnson, who were both built similar to her with a petite and powerful build. There were only a few African Americans competing in gymnastics, but this didn’t register with her until later. She did notice Gabby Douglas winning the individual all-around at the 2012 Olympic Games and realized she could do the same if a young woman of color were able to accomplish what Gabby was capable of doing.

Missing the Team Created Singular Focus

Biles missed a place on the 2011 national team by one spot, which spurned her drive and desire to reach the next level of competition in this sport. She began to commit to full-time training and was working out in Houston when the 2012 US Women’s Olympic Team won the team gold medal. She remembers hearing another gymnast at the gym yelling to her, “That could be you, Simone!” and it certainly was the case only four years later.

The Secret Finally Came Out

The terrible secret that plagued the US Women’s Gymnastics team finally came out in 2018, and Simone was among the hundreds of girls and women that have been sexually abused by Larry Nasar. This man had been a trusted physician for the team and expected to properly care for these ladies but instead took advantage of them. Thankfully, he is behind bars with no chance of parole, serving time for his crimes and the damage he did to the team and the women he was supposed to care for.

Activism Follows Disaster

The disastrous truth that came out in the Nassar case has created a world of activism, much of which is led by Simone Biles and other gymnasts. They are continually working for better pay and working conditions, for fair treatment, and for protection against criminal activity in the future. Biles is much more than simply the most decorated woman in gymnastics; she is a warrior, fighting for all women and the protections they deserve.

Simone might be small in stature, but she is a giant in our world. As one of the most accomplished athletes in the world, she serves as an example for the current and future generations of young girls and women everywhere.