Simone Biles Responds to Questions About Her Future
Simone Biles, the 27-year-old gymnast, is savoring her achievements at the Paris Olympics, where she led Team USA to a gold medal in the team competition and secured another gold in the all-around event. Although Biles still has opportunities to add more medals before the Games conclude, she is already fielding questions about her future plans.
In response to these inquiries, Biles took to X (formerly Twitter) to make a clear statement, urging people to allow athletes to enjoy their success without immediately questioning what comes next. “You guys really gotta stop asking athletes what’s next after they win a medal at the Olympics,” Biles wrote, emphasizing the importance of soaking in the moment after a lifetime of hard work.
Retirement Speculation Surrounds Biles
Speculation about Biles’ potential retirement began even before her trip to Paris. By qualifying for the Olympics, she made history as the oldest U.S. women’s gymnast in nearly 75 years. After narrowly defeating Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade for the all-around gold, some interpreted Biles’ comments as a sign she might soon step away from international competition. “It’s good. I’m gonna hand it to her now – she can have the rest,” Biles said, as reported by Gymnastics Now.
However, Biles has not ruled out the possibility of competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, saying, “Never say never. The next Olympics is at home, so you just never know… But I am getting really old.”
Biles’ return to the Olympics came after she withdrew from several events at the Tokyo Olympics due to the “twisties,” a condition affecting her spatial awareness during aerial maneuvers.
Looking ahead, Biles mentioned in May that she plans to go on tour after the Olympics but is uncertain about her longer-term future. “I would never say never, and I think that would be amazing to [compete] after every Olympic cycle,” she told The Associated Press. “But right now, I can’t tell you yes or no… because I don’t know what life will look like in the next few years.”
Biles Aims to Make History in Paris
Biles still has more to accomplish in Paris. She is set to compete in the balance beam final on August 5 and the floor exercise final shortly after. With seven gold medals already in her career, winning two more would place her second among American Olympians in gold medal count.
For now, Biles remains focused on her current responsibilities. When asked about her “next step” after winning two gold medals, she humorously replied, “Babysitting the medal.”
