With the 2024 Paris Olympics in the rearview, USA gymnastics superstar Simone Biles admitted looking forward to wrapping up the competition.
Biles, 27, memorably withdrew from the Tokyo Games in 2021 due to mental struggles and attempted to return three years later in the French capital.
While her venture was successful, bagging three golds and a silver, Biles admitted to being human and feeling nervous when stepping onto the mat. She also opened up about the relief she felt after her last event.
‘Going into, not as nervous,’ she told Olympics.com. Coming out, it’s just like a breath of fresh air. I feel so much better now that it’s over because you know how stressful it is.
‘So I just couldn’t wait to be done,’ Biles continued. ‘But I was still trying to cherish every single moment along the way.’
Simone Biles admitted she could not wait for the Olympics to be over
Biles competed in Paris after infamously withdrawing from competition in Tokyo
Furthermore, Biles also credited going to therapy as a key factor in her performing well and finding balance in and out of gymnastics.
‘I owe a lot of it to therapy, making sure I’m physically and mentally well,’ Biles shared. ‘I feel like that’s where I find my strength nowadays. I think that translates to the competition floor.’
Biles spearheaded a young team and won golds in Individual All-Around, Team All-Around, and Vault. She also won a silver on Floor.
Despite becoming the most decorated Olympic gymnast, she admitted that it came with its challenges and detailed the difference between team and individual competition.
‘The girls, they could tell you,’ said Biles. ‘We were way more nervous for all-around than we were for team. Team, we were so calm and collected and we were having a great time. And then I think the realness set in and it’s like, ‘Oh this is all-around, this is pretty big.’
‘I felt pretty good warming up but not like I did for teams. I really had to calm my nerves and make sure I was in a good headspace before I went out.
‘I did not have the best [bar] routine. I had to refocus and re-center myself so I had a good rest of the meet. But it was crazy. The nerves were there and apparent.’
Biles secured three gold medals and a silver, becoming the most decorated Olympic gymnast
The Americans bagged gold in team the All-Around Team competition
Biles husband Jonathan Owens, mother Nellie, and father Ron cheered her on in Paris
Furthermore, Biles credited her support system and their presence in Paris. Aside from her supportive parents, Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, was in the stands, tallying numbers and cheering loudly for his wife.
This became especially helpful when she fell to third place after a miscued bar routine.
‘I didn’t even see it. I had to look up to Jonathan and be like, ‘What place am I in?”
‘I haven’t ever been in a position like that before. So I just had to go over there, work on my cues, think about what my therapist has told me if I’m ever feeling anxious.’
Nonetheless, Biles’ run in Paris was one to remember. Already hailed the ‘GOAT’, her athletic future remains in question with the next Olympics being on American soil in Los Angeles.
‘After all is said and done, a lot of weight is off my shoulders,’ Biles said. ‘I feel so much better now that it’s done because we know how hard that is. Especially to attain something that’s so big. And to do it again was an amazing accomplishment.’
‘To just even make all-around final and then to come out with a gold medal. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I did it,’ but I still can’t believe it.’