Simone Biles Says She ‘Just Wanted To Have Fun’ When She Started Gymnastics: ‘I Never Imagined Winning Medals’

Simone Biles Says She ‘Just Wanted To Have Fun’ When She Started Gymnastics: ‘I Never Imagined Winning Medals’

Simone Biles is a great reminder of what can happen when you find and pursue something you love!

The seven-time gold Olympic medalist recently reflected on her journey in gymnastics, revealing that becoming a decorated athlete was not initially part of her plan.

While accepting her honor as Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year, she shared:

“When I started doing gymnastics at age 6, I never imagined winning medals and everything I’ve been fortunate enough to do up until this point. I just wanted to have fun and hopefully get a college scholarship. I’ve kind of surpassed all of that, which is super exciting, but every day I spend competing alongside my teammates is truly a gift.”

 

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Offering a piece of motivational advice for the next generation of gymnasts, she added:

“No matter what life may throw at you along your journey, be the best person you can be, follow your passion, and put in the work. And you know that I see the gold within all of you.”

Despite not working to win awards in the beginning, Simone, 27, has become widely recognized as the greatest American gymnast of all time, holding the record for the most decorated gymnast. In an interview last year, Simone admitted that after achieving so much in her stellar career, she’s leaning more toward retiring and not participating in the 2028 Olympic Games.

What are your thoughts on Simone’s speech?