By Marianna Kazazi, The Sports Financial Literacy Academy
Born in Ohio in 1997, Simone Biles is one of the world’s greatest gymnasts, leaving a lasting impact. Her incredible performance and strong, charismatic personality have made her a standout in the world of sports.
History
Biles grew up with her grandparents, who adopted her and supported her participation in sports throughout her childhood. At the age of 6, Biles’ natural athletic abilities were discovered during a field trip to a gymnastics centre. While observing athletes, Biles began imitating their movements, and a coach later invited her to join gymnastics. Soon after, Simone began developing her athletic skills, marking the start of her highly successful career in gymnastics. Years later, Biles achieved great success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, earning four gold medals and one bronze. She became the first female US gymnast to win that many gold medals at a single Olympic Games. Biles also became the first gymnast to win three consecutive all-around titles and holds 25 World Championship medals. This achievement made her the most decorated gymnast in World Championship history. In addition to her athletic success, Biles also earned multiple awards for her inspirational personality.
Activism
Some of her recent awards include the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022 from Joe Biden, becoming the youngest person to ever receive it. Simone received the award for her activism, focusing on athletes’ mental health, children in foster care, and sexual assault victims. Biles has consistently fought against social stigma, taking bold actions to stand up for what she believes in.
Mental Health
She decided to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to prioritize her mental health after a medical evaluation. Simone opened up about her decision, creating an important conversation on mental health and well-being in sports.
Raising Awareness
After the 2016 Olympics, hackers revealed her confidential medical records, including her use of Ritalin for ADHD treatment. Despite attempts to discredit her, Biles used the opportunity to fight against ADHD stigma through powerful social media posts. Biles also courageously shared her story to raise awareness of sexual abuse through the #MeToo movement on social media. She revealed being one of the many young women abused by USA Gymnastics’ former doctor, Larry Nassar.
Simone’s dedication to gymnastics, her remarkable performances, and her strong character have inspired many young girls of colour to pursue sports. Through her activism and success, Simone Biles has become an admired athlete whose personality shines through her accomplishments.
The Money Smart Athlete® Blog is established and run by the Sports Financial Literacy Academy® (SFLA). Through its education programs, the SFLA has the vision to financially educate and empower athletes of all ages to become better people, not just better athletes. For more information on our courses, our SFLA Approved Trainer Program®, and how they can benefit you and your clients, please get in touch with us at [email protected].