I read a news report that stated the following: “….. other gymnasts’ coaches motioned to the crowd to give her (Biles) a standing ovation!” When does something extraordinary like that happen? Why does it happen?
Answer: The specific occasion—the U. S. Gymnas-tics Olympic Trials—Biles’s final event, her floor routine—Simone exited the podium area after earning the top all-around score of the two-day competition. This guaranteed her spot on the Tokyo Olympic Team, a team that she will lead for the 2nd time at her young age!
Simone Biles was born on 3/14/1997, and her hometown is Columbus, Ohio. She now lives in Spring, Texas (Houston area), and stands a seemingly short 4’ 8” in height, but stands so tall in the world of gymnastics! According to Time magazine, she is “one of the most influential people in the world.”
Take note: She is undefeated in the “allaround competition” since 2013 and was named OLYMPIC ATHLETE of the YEAR by the USOC in 2015. She is the “most decorated” World Championship American Gymnast with 14 total medals—10 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze!
Biles moved to the Houston area in 2019, as did Jordan Chiles, who finished third all-around and joins her training partner as an Olympian. This makes two Texas-trained gymnasts on the team again, as happened much earlier in 1996!
Uncharacteristically, Miss Biles FELL during her routine on the beam and was in tears as she g o t ready for the floor exercise; however, teammate and friend, Chiles, gave her a pep talk that seemed to work, because her partner “stuck” her following “pass” and left the floor, waving and smiling towards her adoring crowd a n d teammate. Not to forget teamm a t e , Chiles, I will mention that she “stuck” (as the gymnastic set calls it) all eight of her routines during the two trials days and became the only team member not to fall during even one of her six competitions, beginning in February!
A little “fun story” to conclude the above news— Simone is dating Houston Texans safety, Johnathan Owens, as they announced in summer of 2020. They say she has taught him some gymnastic moves, and he has taught her how to throw a football. They both seem to possess and enjoy the same type of humor and share athleticism and feel that “they are meant to be!”
Owens, however, confesses that “I had no idea who Simone Biles was or is or that she had a great level of fame when I first met her. Her work ethic was the first thing that ‘caught my eye.’” “I honestly did not know who she was but did realize she had a lot of followers, so I knew that she must be ‘pretty good’ or something.”
Simone describes their relationship as “best friends who are dating.”
There is so much more to the story of this remarkable young woman, but that might be a story or two for another day or two! Right now, I am getting ready to follow her current Olympic journey and hope to see her new successes on television. I am so proud she represents our country!
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