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Simone Biles has had an incredible 2024 Paris Olympics, winning three gold medals in the team, the all-around, and the vault competitions in gymnastics. She now has one more showing on Monday, August 5, in the beam and floor finals. And yet, reporters already want to know if she’ll be at the Olympics in Los Angeles in four more years.
Biles was questioned about her plans on Sunday shortly after she beat Rebeca Andrade of Brazil on the vault, asking if this would be her last time representing for Team USA.
“Is this my last… definitely the Yurchenko double pike,” she replied. “I mean, I kinda nailed that one. So, you know, never say never. The next Olympics is at home. So you just never know.”
She added, with a laugh, “But I am getting really old.”
Biles is currently only 27-years-old, which is young for a person, but notably older for an Olympic gymnast. She is the oldest Olympic all-around winner since Maria Gorokhovskaya competed in 1952 at the age of 30 in Helsinki. But Biles has continued to set and break records, so joining the team at the age of 31 might be something she could do. She would certainly be someone fans would be excited to see, including her competition. After coming in second, Andrade told the Guardian that Biles is her inspiration.
“Simone is from another world, but we always try to get better and evolve in the best way possible,” she said. “To be able to watch her do her incredible gymnastics is an encouragement for everyone to do their best.”
Of her plans for the rest of her time in Paris, Biles said, “The Olympics is such a draining process for the athletes, and it’s multiple days of competition, so you definitely have to be on top of your mental as well as physical [state]. So as long as we’re doing that, then we’re good. And so far I feel good.”
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.