Simone Biles

Simone Arianne Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Spring, Texas after being adopted by her grandparents. She was introduced to gymnastics on a daycare field trip at age six and showed immediate, extraordinary talent.

By her teens, Biles was performing skills of such difficulty that the sport's governing body had to create new elements named after her. She won her first all-around World Championship at 16 and went on to become the most decorated gymnast in history — male or female — with 37 combined World Championship and Olympic medals.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Biles made headlines for withdrawing from several events to protect her mental health, citing a dangerous case of "the twisties." Her decision sparked a global conversation about athlete wellbeing and redefined what courage looks like. She returned at the 2024 Paris Olympics and won three gold medals, proving she is the greatest gymnast the world has ever seen.