Seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles recently shared her views on handling the fame she gained in the initial years of her gymnastics career. The 26-year-old stated that while her fame cannot be compared to someone like Taylor Swift, it’s still somewhat difficult to handle at times.
Biles rose to immense fame during the 2013 World Championship in Antwerp. At the age of 16, she became the first African-American gymnast to win the all-around title at the international championship. Biles’ popularity continued to soar when she won four gold medals at the 2016 Olympic Games.
The American sports star built her fame like no other athlete. Fans and media always followed her, wanting to know more about the decorated gymnast.
Looking back at her initial years and how she handled her new-found fame, Simone Biles told Vanity Fair in a recent interview:
More than Biles, it was her parents who found it difficult to handle their daughter’s fame. She revealed that they wanted to protect their daughter from fans, reporters, and photographers. However, the situation was out of their hands.
Simone Biles also said in the interview:
