Simone Biles capped off her historic Olympic run, winning Sports Illustrated 2024 Sportsperson of The Year — an award fitting for the most decorated U.S. gymnast ever.
Simone Biles is SI’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year ⭐ https://t.co/Fm4hAkpY45 pic.twitter.com/JYyp8OKG6V
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 2, 2025
In the Paris Olympics last summer, Biles was the star of the Games, securing three gold medals — one in the vault, all-around and team events. Biles has 11 Olympic medals, seven of which are golds, and 30 world championship medals, 23 of which are gold. Her 23 World gold medals is good for most all-time and she also has the most all-around titles, with six in women’s competition. Her 11 Olympic medals are the most by an American gymnast. President Joe Biden also awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Bottom line, as Mike Golic Jr. put it this past summer, Simone is a true GOAT.
.@mikegolicjr says Simone Biles is one of the best athletes America has produced in our lifetimes.
She's a true 🐐
(Via @GoJoandGolic) pic.twitter.com/JwkYKgmSWD
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) July 30, 2024
Although people will marvel at Biles’ accolades in competition, what she’s overcome off the field of play truly makes her special. Back at the Tokyo Olympic games, she faced some adversity during a routine where she sprinted down, flipped, landed on her hands, and landed; when she pushed off to flip, she rotated once instead of rotating multiple times. She told the media that she had experienced the twisties. After her experience with the twisties, Biles pulled out of several competitions. Despite the setbacks, Biles was able to take home a bronze medal on the balance beam. Her reasoning for pulling out was due to a mental block that she and other Olympic athletes endured with the delay of the 2020 Olympics due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Through her speaking out on her experience with the twisties, as well as testifying in the Larry Nassar abuse case, Biles has ignited a conversation about athletes and the value of prioritizing mental health. After speaking out about her experience in 2020, she became the face of mental health, encouraging other athletes to be brave and speak about their mental health struggles. Her success is not only a testament to her hard work but her ability to speak out about her mental health struggles gives hope to not only athletes but people of all walks of life.
Biles joins Caitlin Clark, who was named Time’s Athlete of the Year, in marking what was a banner year for women’s sports. Amid unprecedented interest, it’s clear that the saying is true — everyone watches women’s sports.
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