The seven-time Olympic gold medalist, 28, opened up about the topic while discussing her Simone Biles Rising docuseries at Netflix’s FYC event alongside executive producer and director Katie Walsh in Hollywood on Monday, June 2. “I think it’s such a blessing that [the] L.A. 2028 Olympics are here,” she told the crowd when asked about the potential of her competing. “I’m not sure at what capacity [I’ll be involved] because if we’ve learned anything from the docuseries, it’s that your mind and your body have to be in sync.”
The gymnast continued: “I am currently taking a little bit of time off to 1: Support my husband [Jonathan Owens], and 2: To just take time off because what we put our bodies through on the mat is a lot. It’s physically taxing, and at my old age… I’m 28. For a gymnast, that’s old! I started at like, 4! But I do believe that I will be in L.A. — I’m just not sure at what capacity yet, if that’s on the mat or in the stands. But I’d be more than happy to attend in any way that I can.”
Biles last competed for Team USA at the 2024 Games in Paris. In total, she has 11 Olympic medals: seven gold, two silver and two bronze. She is also the most decorated gymnast in World Championships history with 30 medals: 23 gold, four silver and three bronze.
A Legend’s Next Move: Simone Biles and the Road to LA 2028
When you think of gymnastics greats, Simone Biles instantly comes to mind. She’s rewritten records, dominated her sport, and inspired millions. But now, the big question looms: will she be back for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles? She’s given us a glimpse of her thoughts—and it’s fascinating.
Why 2028 Matters: The Host City and the Opportunity
The 2028 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles, present a rare opportunity for an American athlete of Biles’ caliber. Competing (or at least participating) on home soil adds emotional power and legacy impact. According to reports, Biles said she will be “there” for LA, though possibly not on the mat.
What Biles Has Said: Quotes & Key Moments
“My body is aging… I felt it in Paris”
In an interview with L’Equipe, Biles openly discussed the physical toll of competing at the highest level. She admitted:
“I’ve accomplished so much in my sport. For me to come back, it would really have to excite me.”
She also revealed that after her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics she felt drained and even fell ill for days due to the stress on her body.
“I’ll be there – whether on the apparatus or in the stands”
When asked if she’d compete in LA, Biles didn’t rule out either scenario: competing or supporting. She said she will be present for the Games, but hasn’t yet committed to the floor.
Age & Physical Demands: The Realities of Gymnastics
Gymnastics is brutal. The sport demands raw power, flexibility, fearlessness. And these demands don’t ease much with time. By the start of the 2028 Games, Biles will be 31—a comparatively advanced age in women’s elite gymnastics circles. Her own admission: “2028 seems so far away, and my body ages.”
Achievements So Far: Why She Has the Clout to Decide
Biles isn’t walking into this decision lightly. She’s the most decorated gymnast in history with multiple Olympic gold medals and world titles. Given that legacy, she can afford to pick her battles—and that gives her power in deciding whether to compete or not.
Mental Health & Life Off the Mat
The journey of Biles has also been about more than medals. After the Tokyo Games, she shifted the conversation toward athlete wellness, mental health and life balance. She’s now vocal about how life outside gymnastics matters as much.
That internal shift factors heavily into her decision about whether another Olympic cycle is worth the trade-off.
The Four-Year Olympic Cycle: Is It Worth It?
She’s pointed out what most fans overlook: it’s not just the Games, it’s the build-up—four years of training, sacrifice, competition, travel. In her words, many people “think it’s just a one-year commitment but it truly is the four years leading up to the Olympics.” So the decision to go for 2028 isn’t just “yes or no” to competing—it’s “yes or no” to a whole new era of focus.
What Will Biles Consider Before Deciding
Physical readiness
She has to feel strong, healthy, and confident that her body can withstand another Olympic push.
Mental alignment
She’s been clear: her physical health must match her mental health. If one’s off, the other suffers.
Motivation and thrill factor
She said she would only return if the idea genuinely thrilled her. It’s not enough to just “go”; she has to want to go.
Legacy and personal goals
Does she want to add to her legacy as an Olympic competitor, or shift focus to mentoring, advocacy, business or life outside the sport? These are big questions.
Potential Scenarios for 2028
Return as a competitor
If Biles chooses to train and prepare for the 2028 Games, she could attempt a comeback that few gymnasts at 31 have done. It would be bold, inspiring, historic.
Supporting role / ambassador
Alternatively, she could attend as a mentor, a presence, someone to lift the sport and younger gymnasts. She already hinted at being “in the stands.”
Full retirement from elite competition
She might decide that her competitive chapter is complete and instead shift entirely to other ventures—business, personal life, advocacy.
Impact on the Gymnastics World
Biles’ decision—whichever path she chooses—will ripple across gymnastics.
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If she competes, it will energize the sport and raise the bar.
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If she steps back, it may usher in the next generation more openly, while still benefiting from her voice and legacy.
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Either way, her status means young gymnasts will watch and learn from her next act.
Inspiration vs. Transition
She recently said that the sport has “a young generation banging at the door.” She recognizes that the era of her dominance won’t last forever—and that’s okay. Her next chapter might be less about flipping and more about uplifting.
Why Fans & Media Are Watching
Because Biles isn’t just a gymnast—she’s a cultural icon. Every statement she makes matters. When she hints her body “collapsed” after the Paris Games, we listen. That vulnerability makes her human, relatable, and ultimately drives interest in what she does next.
What to Watch For in the Coming Months
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Will she announce training intentions publicly?
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Will she take a break, shift focus, or ramp up toward 2028?
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Will she partner with emerging gymnasts as mentor or coach?
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How will her sponsors, media appearances, and public messaging evolve?
These signs will give us clues about which path she’s leaning toward.
Social Media and Public Appearances
Watch how she uses Instagram, public events, interviews. Is she talking competition or lifestyle change?
Gym Floor Activity
Any glimpses of intense training, vaults, routines, new skills—these would hint at competitive preparation.
Mental Health Advocacy & New Ventures
If her focus shifts toward advocacy, education, business, it may signal a departure from elite competition.
Why We Should Care
Because this isn’t only about one athlete—it’s about resilience, evolution, choice. Biles shows us that even the best must ask: “What next?” Whether she competes or not, her decision will speak to balance between ambition and well-being, legacy and reinvention.
Final Thoughts: The Next Chapter
So where does Simone Biles stand? The answer: somewhere in between. A firm “I might” rather than a definitive “I will.” She’s acknowledging everything she’s achieved, the cost she’s paid, and the fact that the next step must feel right—not just logical.
If she returns to compete in the 2028 LA Olympics, it will be a story of endurance, evolution, and elite performance at an age where many have already stepped away. If she chooses to participate in a different capacity, she’ll still be rewriting what “career apex” means—shifting from dominance to legacy.
No matter what, one thing is clear: we’re all watching. And in the world of elite sport, sometimes the most powerful move is knowing when to leap again — and when to leap differently.
