As she made her way towards the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone Biles once again captivated the world with her extraordinary talent and resilience. The superstar gymnast, already hailed as one of the greatest in her field, reaffirmed her prowess by leading Team USA to gold at the Paris Olympics.
However, her journey to this pinnacle of success has been fraught with challenges, including setbacks at the Tokyo Olympics among other struggles. Biles candidly shared her story in her new Netflix documentary, offering a chilling and inspiring look at her path to overcoming adversity and inspiring millions.
Simone Biles’ Journey of Triumph and Resilience
Earlier this July, Netflix shared an intimate look into the life of the champion gymnast Simone Biles through a documentary titled Simone Biles Rising. The series explores the hurdles Biles has faced throughout her career, including her challenges at the Tokyo Olympics and her struggles with mental health.
In the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Biles ruled the gymnastics, winning four gold medals and one bronze. However, her performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was marred by difficulties.
After initially walking off the competition floor, she withdrew from several events due to mental health issues. As per People, she later explained that she “had no idea where I was in the air,” and that she was experiencing “a little bit of the twisties.”
Reflecting on her experience at the Tokyo Olympics, she said in the Netflix documentary,
I’ve always had really good intuition about things — I never tell people about it, but I can feel a lot of things that are going to happen before it does happen. And unfortunately, I felt that way about the [2020 Tokyo] Olympics.
However, she still earned a bronze on the balance beam and a silver in the women’s team final. The documentary also delves into her mental health struggles and the phenomenon of “the twisties,” which impacted her performance.
Simone Biles Chose to Prioritize Her Mental Well Being
Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics due to mental struggles and a condition called “twisties,” which causes gymnasts to lose their sense of orientation in the air and affects their ability to land safely.
And Biles made a courageous decision to step back from most of the competition, rather than push herself to the brink. Biles received praise for her decision to prioritize mental health which sparked important conversations about mental health in sports.
She also encouraged her husband, the NFL player Jonathan Owens to consult a psychologist. Despite these challenges, Biles wasn’t sure if she would be able to get back in the arena.
“I never thought I was going to be competing again after Tokyo,” Biles said in the Netflix series. However, with the support of her husband, friends, and fellow gymnasts, Biles was inspired to return to the arena and ultimately become the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history.
Simone Biles Becomes the Most Decorated U.S. Gymnast in Olympic History
Despite facing numerous hardships, Simone Biles made a triumphant return at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and officially became the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history.
The champion gymnast won her eighth Olympic medal alongside her teammates, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With this victory, she surpasses former American gymnast Shannon Miller, who earned seven medals at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games. Talking about her achievement, she said, as per People,
I don’t keep count, I don’t keep stats. I just go out here and do what I’m supposed to and I’m doing what I love and enjoying it, so that’s really all that matters to me.
The recent win adds another gold to her name, bringing her total to five golds, one silver, and two bronzes. This victory also marks a remarkable comeback following her previous struggles.
The star gymnast also received immense support from several Hollywood stars, including Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Natalie Portman, Spike Lee, and tennis star Serena Williams, who all joined the game to cheer for the team.
Simone Biles Rising is available to stream on Netflix.
