Simone Biles, a four-time Olympian and the most accomplished gymnast in history, has been honored as Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year.
This recognition follows the 27-year-old’s outstanding achievements at the Paris Olympics, where she earned three gold medals and one silver medal, bringing her total to 32 international titles.
Why It Matters
Biles’s victories in Paris signify a remarkable return following the difficulties she encountered during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In Tokyo, she stepped back from multiple events due to mental health issues, particularly experiencing gymnastics vertigo.
She is the first woman to receive this award since tennis player Naomi Osaka and basketball star Breanna Stewart in 2020, and she joins the ranks of influential African American sports icons like Serena Williams and three-time winner LeBron James, who have been recognized by the magazine in the past.
What To Know
Biles has transformed the world of gymnastics through her unparalleled abilities, featuring maneuvers so intricate that they bear her name. She captured widespread attention during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she achieved her first four gold medals at the age of 19.
“She won gold, followed by another gold, and then yet another; for she altered the landscape of her sport and the discourse surrounding athletes as a whole,” the magazine stated.
At the Paris Olympics, she executed the Yurchenko double pike vault, a skill that only she has successfully performed in competition. Even while dealing with a persistent calf injury throughout The Games, she triumphed in the all-around event and played a key role in Team USA’s gold medal win in the team final.
Her achievements go beyond the competition floor. In 2024, Biles was recognized on the Sports Illustrated Power List as one of the 50 most influential people in sports. She remains a source of inspiration for young athletes around the globe, redefining the conversation about age and longevity in gymnastics.
In the half-century preceding the Tokyo Olympics, no gymnast over the age of 20 had secured the all-around gold medal. At the upcoming Paris Games, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team is set to make history by featuring four returning Olympians—Biles, 27; Carey, 24; Chiles, 23; and Lee, 21—marking the first occurrence of this since 1952.
She is scheduled to officially receive the award during the Sports Illustrated annual awards ceremony on January 7, 2025, at the Wynn Las Vegas, with actor Keegan-Michael Key serving as the host.
What People Are Saying
Simone Biles shared her thoughts with Sports Illustrated, stating, “I don’t believe I’ve fully grasped the reality of what I’ve accomplished in the sport. I can see it, hear it from others, and catch glimpses of it, but I don’t think I’ve truly understood the full impact just yet. Perhaps it will only hit me when I retire and reflect on it a few years down the line.”
Aly Raisman, a former teammate and Olympic gold medalist, remarked, “After Tokyo, I told her, ‘There are so many people around the world who have been suffering in silence and dealing with their mental health. You have no idea how many lives you’ve touched.’ She makes people feel less isolated.”
What Happens Next
Biles has not dismissed the possibility of participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; however, she remains uncertain regarding her future in gymnastics. “I have achieved so much that there is nearly nothing left for me to accomplish,” she stated. At present, Biles is concentrating on various other pursuits, including her involvement with Friends of the Children, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting foster youth, as well as her intention to create a new Athleta collection set to launch in 2025.
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