With the 2020 Summer Olympics scheduled to begin on July 23, 2021, it is time to take a look at some of the athletes returning to competition with the goal of coming home with more medals.
One of USA’s most accomplished and creative gymnasts is among those returning to competition.
She is 4’8″ Simone Biles, and this will be her second Olympics.
Biles turns 24 on March 14 so she is definitely an older competitor by gymnastics standards.
Her resume is complete already; she has nothing else to prove.
Simone Biles: What You Need To Know
A young Simone Biles (USA) celebrating with teammates after hitting her beam set!😍@Simone_Biles pic.twitter.com/EcL53jMOZs
— InternationalGymnast (@intlgymnast) March 4, 2021
- Biles was introduced to gymnastics as a 6 year old on a day care field trip.
- She holds the USA record for most gold medals by a gymnast at a single Olympic games.
Biles won four gold medals (and one bronze medal) in the 2016 Rio Olympics. - Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas are the only Americans to win individual all-around gold medals and team gold medals at the same Olympics.
Biles accomplished this feat in 2016 while Douglas did it in 2012. - Leading up to the 2016 Olympics, Simone Biles won gold at the World Championships three consecutive years (2013, 2014, and 2015).
Biles is the first female gymnast to do this. - She is known for her creativity; Biles constantly invents new moves that are so difficult only she can accomplish them.
These moves on vault, balance beam, and in the floor exercise are aptly named Biles (for vault and beam) and Biles II (for floor exercise). - Simone Biles may attempt to land a double pike in Olympic competition.
No woman has ever successfully completed it; only men have. - Floor exercise is her signature event.
Her peers cannot perform the complex tumbling passes she does.
The Preparation
Some random facts about our Woman of the Week, Simone Biles! pic.twitter.com/Cz2hluAzWd
— Minnie Lahongrais (@Lahongrais) March 4, 2021
Simone Biles is spending between six and seven hours each day in the gym preparing for the Olympics.
Regarding her diet, she said:
“I do not track anything. I eat what I feel good with and try not to overeat or stuff myself because I’m always at the gym…For gymnasts, in particular, [tracking] can lead to health problems and eating issues, so I just eat what I know I can and should.”
Biles is usually at the gym at 7 am so getting a good night’s sleep is a priority for her.
“Earlier than 10:30 p.m. is my target time. I’m usually in bed by 9:30 p.m., so I’m asleep before then.”
Personal Life
Simone Biles Goes Instagram Official with New Boyfriend, NFL Player Jonathan Owens: 'Just Us' https://t.co/3GmDfM7HtR
— People (@people) August 2, 2020
This Olympics will be very different for Biles.
She is no longer a teenager vying to be America’s sweetheart.
Biles is involved with Houston Texans football player Jonathan Owens.
It is unclear whether Owens will be in Tokyo to cheer on Biles since NFL camps will be occurring around that time.
In the meantime, Simone Biles is gearing up for the US Olympic Team trials occurring in St. Louis beginning June 25, 2021.
The US women’s gymnastics team will consist of four members in 2020 (down from 5 in 2016) so the competition will be even more intense.
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