Before she became the most decorated gymnast in American history, Simone Biles was learning the art of the sport at Bannon’s Gymnastix in Houston. Biles, who has seven Olympic medals, is also the first Black woman to win the World All-Around Title. So, how did Biles become one of the most celebrated gymnasts in the country?
Trying Out Gymnastics
Biles’ parents dealt with addiction issues and were unable to care for their children, leaving Biles and her sister, Adria, in the foster care system for three years. In 2000, Biles and her sister were adopted by their grandfather, Ron Niles and his wife, Nellie, who lived in Spring, Texas, a suburb near Houston. During a daycare field trip, Biles visited a gym and watched older girls practicing gymnastics and began imitating them. The coaches at the gym were impressed with Biles’ skills and urged her grandparents to enroll her in gymnastics. She started a training program with Coach Aimee Boorman at a Houston gym.
Making It To The Olympics
When she was fourteen-years-old, Biles decided to switch from public school to home-schooling, allowing her to train six to eight hours a day for gymnastics. Her hard work paid off. Even though she was too young to qualify for the Olympics in London in 2012, Biles finally made it to the big stage in 2016. She won gold medals in vault, floor, individual, team all-around, and a bronze medal on the beam. In 2019, Biles won five gold medals and the all-around title at the World Championships.
The Most Decorated Gymnast
During the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Biles made the difficult decision to temporarily stop competing, after she got lost trying to attempt a two-and-a-half twisting vault. Biles’ decision to prioritize her mental health was widely applauded. Since then, the young gymnast continues to break barriers. She became the youngest person to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022. Biles also has five gymnastic moves named after her. She is aiming to compete at the Olympics in Paris later this summer.
Also, why has Houston become a destination for major sporting events?
