The most decorated gymnast in history, has said she is unsure about competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games expressing reservations about the physical demands and personal sacrifices required for another Olympic cycle.
Speaking after winning the World Sportswoman of the Year award ar the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Tuesday, Simone Biles revealed that she would be present in Los Angeles at the next summer Olympics one way or another but she is yet to decide if it will be in a competitive manner.”If I’m gonna compete again, I’m not so sure. But I will be at the Olympics, whether it’s on the floor or in the stands,” she said.
The 28-year-old said that she is currently “still focusing on healing physically and mentally” following last year’s Paris 2024 Summer Games in which she won three gold medals and a silver upon her triumphant return having taken a three-year break from the sport,. “I haven’t got that much time because I’ve sacrificed so much to hang out with my family, my friends, my husband and stuff like that,” she said. “I’m really enjoying my time off before I decide if I want to go back to the gym and compete. A lot of people think it’s just a one-year commitment, but it truly is the four years leading up to the Olympics.”
In a recent interview with French newspaper L’Équipe, the seven-time Olympic gymnastics champion explained that after returning to the Olympic Village, her body “literally collapsed,” leading to a 10-day illness. Even casual activities, like running with friends, reportedly resulted in prolonged discomfort. These experiences have made her acutely aware of the challenges of maintaining peak physical condition as she ages but she has also on numerous occasions expressed her desire to focus on her personal life and spending more time with her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens.
Biles was also full of praise for Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade who beat her to gold in the Women’s floor gymnastics event in Paris and finished just behind Biles in second in the Women’s artistic individual all-around and Women’s vault events.
“She’s incredible. What she’s accomplished is so inspiring,” Biles said of the 25-year-old Brazilian. I can’t believe she came back from three injuries in the last few years. I love competing against her, she pushes me to be better. We get along really well, and honestly, if it weren’t for those injuries, she’d probably have just as many medals as I do.”
Biles has consistently highlighted the mental challenges of sport and made headlines when she dropped out of the all-around final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to focus on her mental health. “Showing vulnerability is tough,” she said. “Going to therapy every day, like I still do, is hard too. My mental journey matters, and I know it won’t always be a straight line.”
The gymnastics star picked up a fourth Laureus Award when she was crowned World Sportswoman of the Year yesterday for her displays in the French capital and equalled the record set by tennis great Serena Williams. It comes one year after she won Comeback of the Year Award.
“I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when to be done,” she said in January. “If you go back, you’ll be greedy. Those are the consequences. But that’s also your decision to decide. What sacrifices would be made if I go back now?”
