HOUSTON — Houston-connected athletes Simone Biles and Jalen Hurts have earned spots on TIME magazine’s prestigious 2025 TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people. The annual list, released this week, recognizes individuals who are transforming the world across various sectors, including sports, politics, business and entertainment. What happens when two sports stars break beyond their arena and influence the world? You get Simone Biles and Jalen Hurts landing spots on the TIME100 Most Influential People of 2025. This isn’t just about athleticism—it’s about courage, leadership, and cultural impact. Let’s dive deep into why these two are making headlines, shifting narratives, and owning their place in history.
Biles, the decorated gymnast who lives and trains in Spring, Texas, continues to cement her legacy as arguably the greatest gymnast of all time. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Hurts, a Houston native, earned recognition following his Super Bowl victory earlier this year. The 2025 TIME100 list features influencers from 32 countries, including a record 16 corporate CEOs and six members of the Trump Administration. TIME Editor-in-Chief notes that this year’s selections reflect “where global disruption originates today” and the “emergence of a class of business leaders who are filling a leadership void.”
In her profile of Biles, fellow Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman described her as “a gem—one of a kind, forged by relentless hard work and polished by her own determination.” Raisman praised Biles not only for her athletic dominance but also for her advocacy in mental health and athlete safety, writing that “her greatest legacy may be ensuring a better future for those who follow.” Hurts, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in February, was profiled by baseball legend Derek Jeter.
“What Jalen Hurts went through in being benched during the 2018 National Championship game would break a lot of people down. But not Jalen; he focused on what he could control and found a new path to success,” Jeter wrote, emphasizing Hurts’ remarkable resilience.
According to TIME, the annual TIME100 has expanded this year to include a daylong summit featuring interviews with world leaders and the traditional gala. The publication is also launching two new TIME100 franchises focused on philanthropy and digital creators. This year’s list spans diverse professions and backgrounds, with the youngest honoree being 22-year-old French Olympic swimmer Léon Marchand and the oldest being 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who currently leads Bangladesh’s interim government. Other notable figures on this year’s covers include entertainment icon Snoop Dogg, AI pioneer Demis Hassabis, tennis legend Serena Williams, musician Ed Sheeran, and actress Demi Moore.
Simone Biles and Jalen Hurts are proof that greatness isn’t just about winning. It’s about heart. It’s about purpose. It’s about lifting others as you climb. They’ve not only changed their sports—they’ve changed the conversation. And for that, they’ve more than earned their place on TIME’s 2025 Most Influential People list.
