Simone Biles is on a redemption journey back to the Olympic stage, and she’s fiercely protecting her safe space at all costs! A TikTok video by Eurosport shared by an X account began doing the rounds of the gymternet. In the snippet, Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Cécile Landi soak up the vibes at the Paris Olympics athlete village. This was a refreshing change from the ghost town atmosphere of the Tokyo Olympics, due to the strict COVID-19 restrictions.
The ladies were all smiles, dressed in matching Team USA Nike hoodies, and trailed by a camera crew. While they were strolling through the village, the group bumped into Janelle McDonald, the head coach of the UCLA gymnastics team. Being a UCLA star, Jordan Chiles couldn’t contain her excitement and squealed with joy. The women were delighted to chat with Janelle, and Simone even offered to take a picture with Jordan’s former coach. So, Cécile, Jordan, and Janelle started posing. In the midst of all this, another person spotted Simone Biles.
Recognizing the gymnastics superstar, the man politely approached her to ask for a photograph. Simone, with her trademark grace and kindness, gently turned him down, saying, “No photographs, I’m so sorry.” This moment highlighted how Simone is setting boundaries to maintain her peace and privacy ahead of the big competition. Did you know this isn’t the first time the 7X Olympic medalist has talked about putting her guard up for the Paris Olympics?
Simone Biles ‘no pressure’ approach at the Paris Olympics
Ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Biles was feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders, with everyone not only calling her the Greatest of All Time but also pinning all their hopes for gold and USA glory on her shoulders. The constant scrutiny from the press and social media was intense, and when she withdrew from events, the backlash was brutal. Biles faced a wave of criticism, with people calling her a “quitter” and doubting her dedication. She felt overwhelmed by the negativity and admitted to fearing the worst from social media.
After winning the Olympic trials last month, Simone Biles even shared, “They’ll still say like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re going to quit again? Or are you going to quit again?’ And like, and ‘If I did, what are you going to do about it? Tweet me some more?’” As Biles headlines the French capital she is blocking out the noise and focusing on her performance at the Paris Olympics. She’s got a solid plan to keep distractions at bay, and revealed to Hoda Kotb on TODAY that she’s ditching X (formerly Twitter) for the duration of the games while sticking with Instagram and TikTok.
Insta is good. It’s a good way to connect. It’s a way to share what we’re going through. And TikTok. I’ve tried to make a little more TikToks, I’m not the greatest at that. I’m learning,” she said. The press coverage around her has also dialed down in Paris, and even US gymnastics technical lead Chellsie Memmel is making sure the pressure on Biles is manageable. Memmel assured that the team isn’t putting all their hopes on Biles alone and that she has the option to skip some events if needed.
Simone’s coach, Cecile Landi, approached the coaching staff and asked, “If she doesn’t feel like it’s going to be in her best interest to do all four events that day, is that an option for her?” “We said: absolutely,” Memmel noted, discussing the flexibility in expectations. “If that’s what she needs to continue to be at her best for her team and for herself, then that’s what we’re going to do because there are still four other members on our team.” Reflecting on this shift in pressure and Simone Biles’ decision to limit social media negativity, what do you think about the gymnastics queen’s approach to the Paris Olympics? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
