Simone Biles remains undecided whether her glittering, medal-filled Olympic career will have one final chapter in Los Angeles in 2028. The U.S. superstar won her ninth, 10th and 11th Olympic medals at the Paris Games last summer, emphatically completing what she had labelled her “redemption tour” following the low of Tokyo. There, in 2021, she pulled out of the team final because of a mental block that gymnasts call ‘the twisties’, where competitors are disoriented and feel they are lost in the air.
Simone Biles is more than just a gymnast—she’s a movement, a force, a living legend. And now, the world is holding its breath as she considers whether to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Her recent comments—“It would have to really excite me”—sent waves through the sports world. What would it take to bring Biles back to the mat? Let’s dig into her journey, mindset, and what this decision means not just for gymnastics, but for millions who look up to her.
Breaking Every Mold in Gymnastics
From her first backflip to becoming the most decorated gymnast in history, Simone Biles has redefined what it means to be an athlete. With 7 Olympic medals and 25 World Championship medals (and counting), she’s a powerhouse of precision and passion.
Her Impact on Mental Health in Sports
Simone did something rare—she stepped back from competition during the Tokyo Olympics to prioritize her mental health. That bold move ignited a global conversation about athlete wellness, pushing the boundaries of what strength really looks like.
In Paris, Biles won golds in all-around, team and vault — sealed with her signature Biles II, Yurchenko double pike — as well as a silver on floor. Whether she returns to defend any of her titles remains up in the air. “I have accomplished so much in my sport. For me to come back, it would have to really excite me,” Biles told French newspaper L’Equipe, in quotes carried by Reuters.
“You’re going to tell me that the perspective of the Games in Los Angeles is fascinating. And I will be there, whether on the apparatus or in the stands, I still haven’t decided.”Biles’ 11 Olympic medals are the most by a U.S. gymnast. Only Larisa Latynina, a Russian former artistic gymnast, has more.
Biles admitted her efforts last summer took their toll on her body, something she will have to weigh when deciding whether to compete again in three years, when she will be 31. “2028 seems so far away. And my body ages. I felt it in Paris. At the end of the competition, I went back to the village, I took the elevator and my body literally collapsed — I got sick for 10 days,” she added. “So, to be honest, I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Biles’ words come after she was named sportswoman of the year at the Laureus World Sports Awards for a record-equalling fourth time, moving alongside tennis great Serena Williams. Rebeca Andrade, Biles’ competitor and friend, won the comeback of the year award after returning from three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries to win four medals, including one gold, in Paris.
