Simone Biles Talks How She'd Like Her Legacy to Be Remembered Ahead of 2024 Olympics
July 17, 2024
Simone Biles is one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, but she is focusing on more than just winning gold medals as the 2024 Paris Olympics approach.
"As long as I was having fun and doing what I love, that's all that you can do," she said during an appearance on Today when discussing how she wants to be remembered.
"I don't want to look back 50 years from now and be like, 'Wow, she was good, but she was so miserable.' And I think a couple times I might have thought that, but now I'm just like, 'Wow, look at her go. She's having so much fun. She's loving what she's doing with who she's doing it with.' So, really just embracing that moment."
TODAY @TODAYshow"I don't want to look back 50 years from now and be like, 'Wow she was good, but she was so miserable.'" <br><br>In a TODAY exclusive, <a href="https://twitter.com/Simone_Biles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Simone_Biles</a> opens up to Hoda about how she wants to be remembered. ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/vyTnHLEXDa">pic.twitter.com/vyTnHLEXDa</a>
Biles cemented her legacy as a gymnastics legend during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games with four gold medals (team all-around, individual all-around, vault and floor exercise) plus a bronze medal (balance beam).
While she won a silver in the team competition and bronze in the balance beam in the 2020 Tokyo Games, she also withdrew from multiple competitions in those Olympics citing mental health.
She is now back for a third Olympics, and her comments suggest she is enjoying the journey as she attempts to add more medals to her resume.
The most decorated gymnast in history who has multiple moves named after her individual greatness figures to be a primary storyline for the 2024 Games, especially among American fans who will be tuning in to watch her pursue more medals.
And, to hear her tell it, she's "loving" what she does under that spotlight.