Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast of all-time and she knows it. The 27-year-old American superstar was quick to remind the world of her G.O.A.T. status after winning another gold medal in the all-around competition at the Olympics in Paris on Thursday.
Haters were furious, which only made the first-place finish even sweeter!
There were a lot of questions about Biles’ career coming out of Tokyo. A bad case of the twisties forced her to withdraw from every single event at the Games, which made way for 2024 bronze medalist Suni Lee to win the all-around competition in 2021.
Biles’ decision drew a lot of criticism from a very loud minority. They said she quit on her country and called her a traitor. People called her a diva. Others questioned whether her display of cowardice made her worthy of the G.O.A.T. title.
It was hard. Biles took almost two full years off from sport to get her mind right. She questioned whether she should continue. Gymnastics scared her and it wasn’t any fun.
And then, in September of 2022, Biles returned to the gym. The comeback was on.
Take your best shot, world. Simone Biles is ready for you.
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 1, 2024
Beyonce sets the stage for Simone in the women’s all-around tonight at 8/7c on NBC and Peacock. pic.twitter.com/S2xHwxORwd
Fast forward to Thursday. Fresh off of a gold medal in team competition that silenced the doubters and led Team USA to clap back at their former teammate, Biles’ remarkable floor routine secured her yet another individual win in the all-around. She has not lost an all-around competition since 2013!!
A MOMENT TO REMEMBER.
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 2, 2024
The floor routine that secured Simone Biles' second Olympic all-around gold medal. 🥇
📺 #ParisOlympics on NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/6mWPgXfsHs
Biles debuted an expensive new necklace before hanging the gold medal around her neck.
The silver looks great next to the gold.
546 diamonds are featured on the G.O.A.T. necklace.
The winner of 23 world titles is widely considered to be the greatest gymnast of all-time. Her six Olympic gold medals are third behind Soviet gymnasts Larisa Latynina and Vera Čáslavská. She would have more if not for the twisties in Tokyo.
Biles’ necklace is a not-so-subtle reminder of her status.
“My goat necklace is just kind of an ode because [some] people love it and some people hate it. So it’s like the best of both worlds. I was like, ‘Okay, if it goes well, we’ll wear the goat necklace. I know people will go crazy over it.'”
— Simone Biles
It brings Simone Biles great pleasure that the haters hate her pendant!
“A lot of people love it. They always call me the G.O.A.T., so I thought it would be really special if I got one made. And the haters hate it, so I love that even more.
It’s just a special part of me that I have here, as well as in the village, I have a stuffed goat— just to get a reminder of ‘You can go out there, you can do it, you’ve done it before, so let’s go!'”
— Simone Biles
As she expected, Biles’ critics used the necklace to fuel their hostility. They called it classless and demanded that their country’s biggest star at the Olympics win with grace.
Simone Biles, the G.O.A.T. loves to see it!