Simone Biles has two events remaining at the Olympics in Paris. However, the greatest gymnast of all-time is already setting her eyes on a possible return to the Games when they descend upon Los Angeles in 2028.
She left the door wide open!
Biles, fresh off of gold medals in the team competition, individual all-around, and vault, also qualified for the final in floor exercise and balance beam. Both of those events will take place on Monday. It is possible, if not likely, that the 27-year-old will leave France with five gold medals.
As things currently stand, Simone Biles has a total of 10 Olympic medals: 7 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze. That number should be 12 by end of day Monday and could go even higher in 2028.
Everybody assumed that the 27-year-old would call it a career after her “redemption tour” in Paris comes to an end in just a few days. That is still probably what is going to happen.
But… there is still a chance that she will return to represent Team USA on home soil.
Never say never! The next Olympics is at home, so you just never know, but I am getting really old.
— Simone Biles
You just never know! Her words, not mine!
Will Simone Biles return or retire?
Biles would be 31 years young if she does decide to run it back in four years. That is far past “prime” age for gymnastics, but it has been done before. The Soviet Union’s Maria Gorokhovskaya won the all-around gold medal in 1952 at age 30. She is the oldest woman to do so.
With that being said, the sport has changed a lot over the last 70+ years. Youth is crucial in terms of malleability, health, and mental wherewithal. To demand a gold medal from Simone Biles at 31 would be a tall ask. And yet, if there is anyone who could do it, it would be the G.O.A.T.
Perhaps she chooses to retire. Perhaps she chooses to come back in a lesser capacity with a specialization in specific events. Maybe, just maybe, she will do it all again.
For us to even be having this conversation is surprising. Biles was fully expected to hang it up!