Houston’s own Simone Biles is expected to walk the red carpet tonight at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles for the 2025 ESPY Awards. Biles, a previous winner, is nominated in two categories: Best Athlete in Women’s Sports and Best Championship Performance. The Olympic icon is four out of four for nominations and wins at the annual ESPYs, where the sports world gathers to recognize athletes in multiple categories for their individual, team and career achievements for the year and overall. Biles, who is the most decorated gymnast in history and a six-time individual all-around champion in world competition, has taken home 11 Olympic medals, seven of which are gold, according to Olympics.com.
Biles’s first ESPY wins came after winning four Olympic gold medals during the 2016 Summer Olympics, the most for an American gymnast during a single Olympic game. Biles, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, was raised in the Houston suburb of Spring, and honed her skills while training and competing in the region’s rich gymnastics tradition under coach Martha Karolyi at the famed and controversial Karolyi Ranch founded by Bela and Martha Karolyi. The ESPYs is a fan-focused awards show produced by ESPN and first aired on the channel in 1993. After an ESPN committee chooses the finalists, the public votes to determine the winners in the categories.
The Icon Returns: Why Simone Biles at the ESPYs Matters
When Simone Biles steps back into the spotlight, the world pays attention—and rightly so. With two major nominations at this year’s ESPY Awards, the gymnastics legend isn’t just making a comeback; she’s rewriting what resilience looks like. After stepping back from the Tokyo Olympics to focus on mental health, her return to both competition and accolades proves that champions never truly step down—they rise, again and again.
What Are the ESPY Awards, Anyway?
The ESPY Awards (short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) are essentially the Oscars of the sports world. Presented by ESPN, these awards celebrate the best athletes, performances, and moments from across all sports.
Winning an ESPY is about more than just skill—it’s about inspiration, courage, and greatness. And Simone? She’s got all that in spades.
Simone’s Two Big Nominations in 2025
Let’s dive into the categories where Simone Biles is nominated:
Best Comeback Athlete
This one’s a no-brainer. After taking a step back in 2021 to prioritize her mental well-being, Biles came back in 2023 and 2024 stronger, fiercer, and more focused. She didn’t just return—she won. This nomination honors her courage and determination to defy expectations.
Best Female Athlete
In a category stacked with stars, Simone shines brightest. Her jaw-dropping routines and mental resilience have once again placed her among the elite. This nomination recognizes not just her physical feats but also the way she inspires millions—especially young women—to be bold and unapologetically themselves.
A Comeback Rooted in Courage
Simone’s return isn’t just about medals. It’s about reclaiming her narrative. After Tokyo, critics doubted if she’d compete again. Instead, she showed the world that choosing mental health isn’t weakness—it’s strength in its purest form.
Breaking Down Her 2024 Season
Dominating the U.S. Gymnastics Scene
She crushed the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, taking home multiple golds and reasserting her place as the GOAT.
Global Recognition
On the international stage, she stunned crowds with never-before-seen routines. Her Yurchenko double pike vault? Still mind-blowing.
The Legacy of Simone Biles
Even before these nominations, Simone Biles was already a household name. But what makes her truly iconic isn’t just the flips and spins—it’s her power to move culture forward.
Advocating for Mental Health
She made it OK for athletes—especially Black women—to say, “I need a break.” That takes guts.
Empowering Women in Sports
Simone is one of the most influential female athletes alive. Her courage to speak up has opened doors for countless others.
The Fan Buzz: Social Media’s Reaction
From Instagram to TikTok, fans are losing it over her ESPY nods.
“Simone Biles being nominated again? That’s the comeback story we needed!”
“She never left our hearts—and now the world knows it.”
Media Coverage: Everyone’s Talking About It
Major outlets like ESPN, CNN, and The New York Times are covering her story. Why? Because Simone Biles isn’t just making headlines—she is the headline.
The Power of Her Performance
If you haven’t watched her routines recently, stop what you’re doing and go check them out. Every move is a statement. Every landing, a declaration.
She doesn’t just perform. She commands the floor.
Support from Fellow Athletes
Athletes from across disciplines—Serena Williams, LeBron James, even Tom Brady—have applauded Biles for her strength and grace.
They get it. Greatness recognizes greatness.
Past ESPY Wins: A Reminder of Her Reign
Simone has won several ESPYs before. But this year feels different. It’s not just about athletic excellence—it’s about human resilience.
What Are Her Chances of Winning?
Let’s be real—Simone Biles is the frontrunner. But even if she doesn’t take home the trophy, the nominations alone are proof of her unmatched influence.
The Bigger Picture: Mental Health in Sports
Biles’ journey has amplified the conversation around athlete wellness. And guess what? That conversation is still going strong. She’s changed the game—not just in gymnastics, but in how we treat human beings behind the fame.
What’s Next for Simone Biles?
With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, don’t be surprised if she takes center stage once again. This ESPY moment might just be the beginning of her next chapter.
Final Thoughts: More Than Just an Athlete
Simone Biles’ return to the ESPY Awards isn’t just a sports headline. It’s a cultural moment. She’s more than a gymnast—she’s a movement. And in a world that’s constantly shifting, her strength, grace, and honesty remind us all of what it means to rise, fall, and rise again.
