Simone Biles
Most decorated gymnast in history with 11 Olympic and 30 World medals.
Simone Arianne Biles Owens was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio. She is an American artistic gymnast whose 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals make her the most decorated gymnast in history. Many consider her one of the greatest gymnasts ever and one of the greatest female athletes of all time. Her 11 Olympic medals tie her with Věra Čáslavská for the second-most among female Olympic gymnasts, behind Larisa Latynina, and she holds the record for the most Olympic medals by a U.S. gymnast.
At the Olympics, Biles has won the individual all-around gold once (2016). She is also a champion on vault (2016), won gold on floor exercise in 2016, and has two bronze medals on balance beam (2016, 2020). She led the U.S. team to gold in 2016 (the "Final Five"). At the 2020 Olympics, where she was expected to win at least four gold medals, she withdrew from most events after the qualification round due to "the twisties," a temporary loss of body awareness during twisting skills. She earned a silver medal with the U.S. team, nicknamed the "Fighting Four."
Biles is the most decorated gymnast at the World Championships, with 30 medals, all but seven of them gold. She has won the all-around title six times (2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), the floor exercise title six times (2013–2015, 2018–2019, 2023), and the balance beam title four times (2014–2015, 2019, 2023)—all record totals. She is also a two-time vault champion (2018–2019) and has been part of a record five gold-medal-winning U.S. teams (2014–2015, 2018–2019, 2023). Additionally, she has four silver medals (vault in 2013, 2014, and 2023; uneven bars in 2018) and three bronze medals (vault in 2015; balance beam in 2013 and 2018).
Domestically, Biles has won a record eight U.S. national all-around championships (2013–2016, 2018–2019, 2021, 2023). In 2023, she became the oldest female gymnast to win that title. She is a seven-time champion on vault, balance beam, and floor exercise, a two-time uneven bars champion, and the only woman to win all five gold medals at a single national championships twice (2018, 2023).
Biles is the sixth woman to win an individual all-around title at both the Olympics and World Championships, and the first since Lilia Podkopayeva in 1996 to hold both titles at the same time. She is
- born
- March 14, 1997
- field
- Artistic gymnastics
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Most decorated gymnast in history; 11 Olympic medals, 30 World Championship medals
Quick Facts
- Fullname
- Simone Arianne Biles Owens
- Birth Date
- 1997-03-14
- Birth Place
- Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
- Height
- 4 ft 8 in
- Discipline
- WAG
- Country
- USA · WAG
- Natlteam
- 2012–2016, 2018–2021, 2023–2024
- Gym
- World Champions Centre (2015–present) / Bannon's Gymnastix Inc. (2003–2014)
- Headcoach
- Laurent Landi / Cécile Canqueteau-Landi
- Formercoach
- Aimee Boorman
- Show-Medals
- yes
- Spouse
- Jonathan Owens · 2023
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Simone Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio, the third of four siblings. After her birth mother was unable to care for her, Biles and her siblings went in and out of foster care. In 2000, her maternal grandfather Ron Biles and his second wife Nellie Cayetano Biles began caring for the children, formally adopting Simone and her younger sister Adria in 2003. Biles holds Belizean citizenship through her adoptive mother and considers Belize her second home. She first tried gymnastics at age six during a day-care field trip, and began training with coach Aimee Boorman at age eight.
Biles began her elite gymnastics career at age 14 in 2011. She rose quickly, winning her first world all-around title in 2013 at age 16, becoming the first African American woman to do so. At the Olympic Games, she is a gold medalist in the individual all-around (2016).
Reader's Guide
Simone Biles's significance lies in her unprecedented medal haul and technical innovation. With 11 Olympic medals, she is tied with Věra Čáslavská as the second-most decorated female Olympic gymnast behind Larisa Latynina, and has the most Olympic medals earned by a U.S. gymnast. Her 30 World Championship medals make her the most-decorated gymnast in World Championships history, with all but seven gold. She is a six-time all-around champion and six-time floor exercise champion at the World Championships, both record totals. Biles is the sixth woman to win an individual all-around title at both the Olympics and the World Championships, and the first since Lilia Podkopayeva in 1996 to hold both titles simultaneously. She is the tenth woman and first American woman to win a World medal on every event, and the first woman since Daniela Silivaș in 1988 to win a medal on every event at a single Olympics or World Championships. Her legacy includes originating the most difficult skill on three apparatuses, skills no other gymnast has attempted. She has won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year four times and Comeback of the Year once.
Did You Know?
- Biles is the originator of the most difficult skill on women's vault, balance beam, and floor exercise, and is the only gymnast to attempt them.
- She is the first American woman to win a World medal on every event.
- In 2023, she broke the 90-year-old record for most U.S. national all-around titles, previously held by Alfred Jochim.
- Biles holds Belizean citizenship through her adoptive mother and considers Belize her second home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Simone Biles?
Simone Biles is an American artistic gymnast born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio. She is widely regarded as the most decorated gymnast in history and one of the greatest female athletes of all time.
How many medals does Simone Biles have?
She has collected 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals over the course of her career. That combined total makes her the most decorated gymnast the sport has ever produced.
What are Simone Biles's Olympic achievements?
Biles captured the individual all-around gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games. Her 11 total Olympic medals tie her with Věra Čáslavská for the second-most among female Olympic gymnasts, trailing only Larisa Latynina.
Why is Simone Biles considered so important to gymnastics?
She has repeatedly raised the bar for difficulty and consistency, earning multiple skills that are officially named after her. Her longevity and dominance across two decades of competition have set a new benchmark for the entire discipline.
What makes Simone Biles stand out from other gymnasts?
In addition to her record medal haul, she holds the distinction of the most Olympic medals won by any U.S. gymnast. Her impact is often discussed well beyond gymnastics, with many citing her as one of the top athletes in all of sport.
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