The return of Simone Biles to her journey toward her fourth Olympics in 2024 marks a significant moment. This comeback follows the Twisties trauma she experienced during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a challenge that continued to affect her even years after the incident. Simone Biles has been candid about the impact of the fear of twisting on her mental well-being, leading her to take a break to prioritize her mental health.

Ahead of her return in 2023, Simone Biles opened up about the mental aspect of gymnastics and her comeback, revealing, “Lots of therapy, I go once a week for almost 2 hrs.” However, in the latest revelation ahead of her 2024 return, she opened up about her struggles with therapy, admitting to dodging sessions and even ghosting her therapist as she sought to heal from her Twisties trauma.

On the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast, Simone Biles opened up about her journey with therapy and how she did not think it would work but “it’s working”. When asked about personal goals unrelated to gymnastics by Alex Cooper, Simone shared the importance of prioritizing her mental health. She admitted, “I would say to keep up with my therapy even on those hard days because I have dodged a couple of those.” With a laugh, she shared how she sometimes avoids her therapy sessions, even pretending to be unavailable, despite them being scheduled on her days off, even though her therapist is aware of it.

Discussing the experience of ghosting her therapist, Simone shared,  “I feel so guilty and so ashamed.” However, she explained that her reasons for doing so stem from feeling like she should be healed by now. She expressed, “I just feel like a record on repeat. And again, it goes back to, like, I feel like I should be healed by now. Now you’re shoving this down my throat.” So how has therapy helped her?

Simone Biles once shared, “I’ve had so much trauma, so being able to work on some of the traumas & work on healing is a blessing.” Reflecting on the benefits of seeking help, Simone shared with Alex Cooper that one lesson she has learned over the years is not to rush the healing process, a lesson she gained from therapy. She shared how therapy has positively impacted the lives of athletes like herself, saying, “So I am very grateful that I’m in therapy and thankful for the resources we have. Because before this, like no athlete was very outspoken about doing therapy or this, that, the other, or even just getting help.”

Simone Biles also expressed her gratitude for being able to be vulnerable with her fans and the community, stating, “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do.” As we reflect on her journey, it becomes evident how much effort Simone Biles has invested, both mentally and physically, to become the most decorated gymnast ever.

Simone Biles introduced her inner self to the world when she was on the way to earning another gymnastics medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The 4x Olympic champion was already known to all for her gymnastics prowess on the vault table or balance beam. But she had to bow out from the gymnastics all-around final because of her ‘twisties’, the condition when a gymnast’s body and mind don’t act together. Now, after almost 3 years, Biles once again pulled off the curtains from the emotional rollercoaster journey she faced post Tokyo Olympics.

On 17th April, in a conversation with Call Her Daddy, Simone Biles, reminisced about the incident. Apart from the ‘twisties’ fiasco, the alleged issue with her coach also complicated the situation. She mentioned, “I thought I would be banned from America. Coz that’s what they tell you. If it’s not gold, don’t come back,” stated Biles. Those low points took an enormous toll on her, leaving her completely unsettled. After witnessing the situation, Simone could only claim, “I am fighting with demons” to her mates. Some patches are still there with her.

As Simone Biles recollected, she could never forgive her for all of her decisions. The mental stigma took such a toll on her at that age that still receives flashbacks of her Tokyo Olympic failures. Despite that, Simone Biles is still not ready to call her gymnastics career a day. In the conversation with Call Her Daddy, she felt emotional when talking about a period of life where her surroundings were almost successful in breaking her bond with gymnastics. But with certain changes in mindset, Simone Biles is now eagerly eyeing for her Olympic return, to finish the tasks that she left unattended in Tokyo. And she is not alone there.

Simone Biles acknowledges the power of love and support 

Her coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi are like the pillars of her vocation. “I really feel like [coach Laurent Landi] is always one step ahead of me. So every time I would come into the gym, he was like, ‘O.K., so I have some set routines for you.’ And I’m like, ‘What? I’m literally just trying to get in shape!” Simone had once said about her beloved coach. With this solid support system, she has come back stronger than ever. “I think I’m in better shape than I was in 2021,” she had stated confidently in the recent past.

“Are you all done yet?” This is how Simone Biles responded to fan backlash over her husband Jonathan Owens’s comments on the Pivot podcast at the tail end of 2023. 28-year-old NFL safety Owens unwittingly sparked a maelstrom with his “I always say that the men are the catch” and admitting that “I didn’t know who she was at the time” about Biles.

These words shared on “The Pivot” podcast alongside his esteemed wife, hurled the NFL hunk into a whirlwind of scrutiny, leaving legions of Simone Biles’ fans in dismay. Owens faced criticism online for his comments with some even branding him a red flag and suggesting to Biles that she severed ties with her beloved husband. But just like she did back then, Biles has once again made it clear that her husband comes first for her.

“Really hurt,” Simone Biles addresses fan backlash on Jonathan Owens

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics saw a pivotal moment in gymnastics history when Simone Biles courageously decided to confront the enigmatic challenge known as the “Twisties.” In a sport where precision and control reign supreme, Biles openly admitted she “literally cannot tell up from down.” Biles made the agonizing choice to withdraw from both the women’s team final and the individual all-around finals, relinquishing her chance at Olympic glory in several events.

Yet, in the wake of her departure, she faced a barrage of criticism, with some labeling her the “biggest quitter in sports.” Now, as she embarks on her journey towards the next Olympic cycle, Biles has opened up about the aftermath of her decision, revealing that she couldn’t bear to face her coach, Laurent Landi, in Tokyo.

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics saw a pivotal moment in gymnastics history when Simone Biles courageously decided to confront the enigmatic challenge known as the “Twisties.” In a sport where precision and control reign supreme, Biles openly admitted she “literally cannot tell up from down.” Biles made the agonizing choice to withdraw from both the women’s team final and the individual all-around finals, relinquishing her chance at Olympic glory in several events.

Yet, in the wake of her departure, she faced a barrage of criticism, with some labeling her the “biggest quitter in sports.” Now, as she embarks on her journey towards the next Olympic cycle, Biles has opened up about the aftermath of her decision, revealing that she couldn’t bear to face her coach, Laurent Landi, in Tokyo.

She said, “I felt like I failed him. And I’ve never said that out loud. So it’s like in, and they’ve helped me get to that point. ’cause I never thought I was gonna do gymnastics again. And so I felt like I let down Laurent.” This admission also came as Simone Biles shared she was scared that even her country would ‘hate her.’

In a candid conversation on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Simone Biles peeled back the layers of pressure she felt from the United States and the entire world. She said, “If I could’ve gotten on a plane and flown home, I would’ve done it. I thought I was going to be banned from America ‘cause that’s what they tell you: ‘Don’t come back if not gold. Gold or bust. Don’t come back.’”

Despite her struggles, Biles managed to compete in the beam final, where she won a bronze medal, which she considered one of the most meaningful achievements of her career. As she, alongside her coaches Laurent Landi and Cecile Landi, sets her sights on the Pairs Olympics 2024, fans hope for her redemption and eagerly anticipate the resurgence of a team set to once again elevate American pride on the global stage.

Simone Biles is set to kick off her 2024 Olympic gymnastics season scheduled for May 17 and 18 at the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut. In the meantime, she is embracing her new home in the Windy City, with her husband, Jonathan Owens. The gymnastics phenom renowned for her unflinching support for the Houston Astros has never failed to make headlines.

A true Texan through and through, Biles, whose love for the Astros runs deep, has previously demonstrated her allegiance by throwing the first pitch for the team not once but twice, in 2016 and 2019. However, this time the seven-time Olympic medalist swapped her Astros cap for their rival team’s jersey.

Making it to the MLB headlines again. Recently, Owens signed a $4.75 million two-year contract with the Chicago Bears and to celebrate this, the couple expressed gratitude to the city by throwing the first pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field before Saturday’s White Sox game against the Cincinnati Reds. This gesture exemplified their shared passion for sports and for each other.

After playing for the Green Bay Packers last season, Owens signed a contract with the Bears. He was looking forward to the opportunity and ready to take on the new challenge in his NFL career and said, “Regardless of my role or whatever it’s going to be, I’m going to maximize it. I’m coming here to compete. Obviously, no one wants to come in and say, ‘I’m coming in to play as a backup.’ I know what I can do on special teams, on defense. I feel like that’s what makes me a very valuable asset to a team… I’m excited for the challenge.”

The sport of gymnastics, while celebrated for its grace and athleticism, has a troubling history marred by traumatic experiences for many of its top athletes. Despite their remarkable achievements, athletes like Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Maggie Nichols, and others have faced significant challenges within the sport. While Simone Biles and her peers have emerged as vocal advocates, shedding light on the dark realities of gymnastics, cracks in the system persist.

Last year, athletes like Kara Eaker, Kim Tessan, and others demonstrated that the trauma extended beyond elite gymnastics, reaching even into college gymnastics. Recently, echoing Simone Biles’ struggles, another brave US gymnast has confessed to horrifying coach behavior.

Former gymnast and Temple University graduate Julianna Roland took to her X platform to share her harrowing experience of her last years in the sport. Despite her deep love for gymnastics growing up, within just two years, she shared how all her joy was stripped away, leaving lasting impacts even after leaving the sport. Julianna recounted how, despite her successful year as a freshman, her time in the program was marked by physical and emotional strain.

This included competing with severe injuries, enduring humiliation from her coach, and facing constant criticism about her appearance and food choices. She vividly recalled moments like her coach monitoring meals in the dining hall, leading her to sneak food out due to discomfort.

Following the COVID-19 quarantine period, Julianna set out to return to the sport stronger, but she picked up unhealthy behaviors driven by the belief that her worth was solely tied to her performance and appearance. This had a detrimental impact on Julianna’s mental and physical health. She bravely shared how she dropped over 30 pounds in two months and said, “I developed a crippling eating disorder that almost took my life and made it difficult to do just about everything”.

Despite her ordeal, she initially resisted seeking help. However, with time and support from a new coaching environment that prioritized her well-being, Julianna began to heal. She recognized the importance of sharing her story to advocate for change and prevent others from enduring similar mistreatment. As we reflect on Julianna Roland’s heartbreaking past, it echoes a similar nightmare once faced by Simone Biles.

In 2021, during an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes”, Simone Biles also revealed that during her training camps at Karolyi Ranch in Texas, she and fellow gymnasts were often underfed, prompting them to sneak into the cafeteria to find extra food. The Olympian admitted to breaking into the cafeteria at night to eat, recalling moments of running with hoodies up to avoid getting caught.

This revelation came after Simone Biles called out beauty standards in gymnastics, emphasizing the impact of unrealistic beauty ideals on her self-esteem. Today, Biles stands as a staunch advocate in the sport, and with Julianna Roland joining the chorus, fans are hopeful that these outspoken revelations will influence a new generation of athletes and usher in an era of gymnastics fueled by the ambition to create a haven within the sport.

The queen of gymnastics, Simone Biles, loves her bling. Her collection of trinkets serves as a heartfelt tribute, notably to her love for her husband, Jonathan Owens. From the breathtaking $300,000 engagement diamond ring crafted by Jonathan Owens and jeweler ZoFrost to her frosty wedding band, each piece tells a story of love and devotion.

Alongside her personalized “Owens” necklace and ring, as well as her cherished “J” necklace, Simone’s adornments include a treasure trove of glittering jewelry that reflects her unique style and personality. However, amidst her array of luxurious accessories, a recent addition has captured attention—a shimmering blue accessory that symbolizes her enduring passion for her first love—not Jonathan Owens but gymnastics.

In a recent Instagram post by the World Champions Centre, owned by Simone Biles’ parents, the gym extended heartfelt congratulations to two of its standout members, Simone Biles and Joscelyn Roberson for their incredible achievement as gold-winning world champion team members at the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Reflecting on their monumental success from the previous year, where the duo played pivotal roles in securing gold for Team USA, with Simone Biles earning an impressive four gold medals and one silver, the post showcased the presentation of their well-deserved “World Champion” rings.

Featuring a substantial silver band with a captivating blue stone at its center and the words “World Champion” elegantly inscribed on the sides, the rings symbolize the athletes’ dedication and excellence. The accompanying caption exuded pride and jubilation, proclaiming, “WORLD CHAMPS has a nice ✨ring✨to it. Congratulations to WCC’s @simonebiles & @josc_roberson on receiving their World Championship rings!!! #WCCPROUD”.

This celebration not only recognizes their remarkable accomplishments but also highlights the spirit of teamwork and perseverance that define the World Champion Centre.

Imagine paying for a PPV event to catch a glimpse of your favorite stars, only to find out that they will not compete. While such occurrences are rare, the US gymnastics enthusiasts suffered a similar fate today. Kicking off the selection trials on April 2, the US Female Artistic Gymnastics National Team for Paris 2024 was expected to take shape.

However, in an unfortunate turn of events, the fans were deprived of watching the likes of Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles. The event, from its start, was filled with confusion. As the athletes performed their routines one by one, the lack of visuals of their score and commentary made the entire event seem bizarre. However, this was quite the opposite of what the fans signed up for.

When FlipNow. TV announced about streaming the US National Team selection live, gymnastics fans were utterly excited. The event took place at the Women’s Artistic National Camp in Katy, Texas. Eyeing a berth in the 2024 Pacific Rim and City of Jesolo trophy, a total of eighteen slots were up for selection in both the junior and senior divisions. Athletes like previous Olympic champions, and current National team members, were selected to attend the camp.

According to reports, the likes of Simone Biles, Skye Blakely, Jordan Chiles, Ly Bui, and several other top-tier athletes were up for the event. FlipNow.TV charged a hefty amount of $9.99 as PPV charges for watching the selection for the full day.

A lot of people paid the PPV amount to watch the top stars perform ahead of the Games. Unfortunately, Biles and others did not show up, leaving the entire fraternity fuming.

Fans took to the Alexis Ohanian-owned platform Reddit to vent out their frustrations. Here’s a glimpse at what they had to say.

One Reddit user commented “I’m really torn on this whole thing. I appreciate the gymnasts being given agency over whether they are shown, but on the other hand, should this just be part of being on national team? Esp when it’s publicized as if we’ll see everyone…USAG is making $ from us sitting here watching a pink screen. And national team gets a stipend…I’m torn.”

Another user mentioned how Jesolo and Pacific Rims seemed ‘star-studded’, “Isn’t it weird that the majority of the Olympic hopefuls aren’t testing anything out internationally this year? Jesolo and Pac Rims used to be so star studded ”. “So far I’m regretting spending the $10”, wrote another fan. Another gymnastics enthusiast commented on how Reess slipped on the beam, “Ouch, that second fall for Reese looked rough on the body”

Thus, with the initial selection event coming out as a damper, fans would expect to see the top US gymnasts set the floor on fire in the future.