Simone Biles says a return to the Olympics in Paris this summer is not certain, and she would not be crushed if she did not go to the Games. The American became the most decorated athlete in the history of the sport at the World Championships last year, winning four gold medals in Antwerp at her first major event since taking a break for her mental health.
Simone Biles has raised questions about whether she will compete at the Paris Olympics, admitting it would not “absolutely crush” her if she did not go to a third Games.
The American is by some way the biggest name in gymnastics, and made history in her comeback from a long break out of top-level competition by winning four golds at the World Championships in Antwerp last year.
Biles won three individual gold medals and one for her team to become the most decorated athlete in the history of her sport, with a combined 37 medals across the Olympics and World Championships.
The 26-year-old also became the first woman to successfully land the , a move which is now named after her.
Biles had taken time out from the sport after speaking openly about the mental difficulties she dealt with at the Tokyo Games, when she suffered with what is known as the ‘twisties’, an issue which causes a mental block to routines gymnasts could often do with their eyes closed.
She returned to take bronze in the balance beam competition, but any question around whether she has unfinished business at the Olympics has been denied by Biles, who has seven medals from two previous Games, including four golds.
“If I don’t make it to Paris, it won’t absolutely crush me,” she told Vanity Fair.
Asked “so nothing definitive”, Biles then replied: “Correct”.
Biles has and told the same publication that she has been enjoying her return to training more than she expected.
“I owe that to my team-mates,” she said
“I didn’t think I’d be having fun like this at my age in the gym, but they keep it fun. They’ve been bigger rocks to me than they know.”