It was a memorable and historic2024 Paris Olympics for Simone Biles, who finished this year’s Summer Games with four medals overall.
Biles, who received three gold medals and one silver, became themost decorated Olympic American gymnast of all time with 11 Olympic medals overall. Now,she is reveling in the accomplishment and healing from a minor injury.
Biles was spotted with a boot on following her final competition at the Paris Games and told Hoda Kotb on TODAY on Aug. 6 that the boot was "precautionary."
"We're resting up as much as possible," Biles explained. "We have tour in a couple weeks. So, I'm just going to rest and heal."
Biles and other gymnastics superstars will hit the road this fall for the "Gold Over America Tour," performing in 30 arenas across the U.S.
She previously spoke with NBC’s Mike Tirico following the women’s floor exercise Aug. 5 and was noticeably wearing a boot on her left foot.
When asked how her calf was, Biles said, “Calf is good. It’s just precautionary, making sure, because we still have tour after this to heal up and all of that stuff. So, just a little bit of soreness.”
Biles took a tumble during her warmups and went on to re-tape her calf ahead of her final floor routine. Biles had expressed issues with her calfearlier in the competition.
“I feel like elite athletes are pretty tough, so we’re just, through pain or pleasure, we’re ready for whatever,” she told Tirico as footage of her fall was shown on screen. “So mainly, what you’re seeing here is, I was just trying to over rotate for good measure, and I did just that and almost knocked (coach) Laurent (Landi) on out. But it was good.”
Biles' smile has been an Olympics staple, and she agreed that her smile was showing a different joy in these Games. Biles struggled with the twisties at her last Olympics appearance in Tokyo and had to withdraw from the competition.
“I’m a lot happier and I chose to do this. So at the end of the day, whatever happens, happens. But I’m in a good spot mentally and physically, so you can’t take that away from me,” she said. “So whenever I’m out there, it’s just pure joy. Can’t believe I’m out there again, competing, representing my country, just having fun, doing what I love.”
She said that now she “most definitely” appreciates her Olympic experience in a different way, saying that she felt “there were such big expectations on us” during her first Games.
“So once we won our first gold, I think I was just a little bit naive about the whole entire thing,” she continued. “And now I appreciate it a little bit more, maturity. This time around was really special.”
Biles added that seeing everyone’s support, including celebs like Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande and athletes like Steph Curry and Tom Brady, is “absolutely amazing.”
“We were super excited to be in their presence, having them watch us do what we love,” she said. “The Olympics only ever happens every four years, and that’s when gymnastics is really popular. So to have the support really means the world for the whole entire team, not just me.”
During Biles' final event, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade won the gold, while Team USA's Jordan Chiles snagged the bronze. It was a historic moment as the trio became the first all-Black podium in men’s or women’s gymnastics at the Olympics.
When on the podium, the camaraderie was strong as Biles and Chilesbowed down on either side of Andrade, celebrating her historic win as well. With four medals at the Paris Games — one gold, two silver, one bronze — Andrade became the most-decorated Brazilian athlete in history.
Before getting the silver in the final event, Biles fell off the balance beam event during her routine and did not land on the podium. Despite the fall, she persisted and continued.
“The legacy, I feel like, is just having fun, doing what you love and that’s what I try to instill in them every single day in practice,” she said about her commitment to the sport and future of gymnastics, before sharing why her hard work is worth it.
“It’s worth it because, I mean, we’re here in Paris, just won a couple medals, and it’s super exciting,” she said. “You work your whole entire life for moments like this to represent your country on an Olympic stage, and we did just that this weekend. So we’re so proud.”
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
