Born in Columbus, Ohio, on March 14, 1997, Simone Biles started her gymnastics odyssey at only six years old and her journey was destined for greatness from the start.
Too young to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, Biles skyrocketed to fame in 2013. At just 16, she clinched two gold medals at the Antwerp Championship, including the coveted all-around title. Here, she introduced the world to a groundbreaking move on the floor exercise —the Biles, a double layout with a half twist, now cemented into gymnastics history.
With four World Championships golds in 2014 and another four in 2015, the young phenom was already a formidable force heading into her first Olympics at Rio 2016. Biles left no room for doubt, securing gold in the all-around, team, vault, and floor exercises while claiming bronze on the balance beam.