“Someday when I retire, things will be different” – Simone Biles reflects on superstardom

Simone Biles recently opened up about how it felt to be a superstar, just days after her triumph at the Paris Olympics. The American gymnast is currently taking part in her own Gold Over America tour. Days after the 2024 Summer Olympics came to a close, Biles partnered with Athleta to launch the second annual Gold Over America Tour, which celebrates the nation’s top gymnasts. Biles and her team, which includes Jordan Childs, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, Jocelyn Roberson, Paul Judah, Fred Richardson, Yul Moldauer, Brodie Malone and Shane Wikus, are currently participating in the tour’s 20th stop in St. Charles on Oct. 15. During the tour, the 27-year-old gymnast was interviewed online by WTHR’s Annie Marie Tiernon, where she was asked what it feels like to be considered a superstar in her sport. In response, Biles acknowledged that it “shocked” her, but she was aware of the impact it had on people who looked up to her and followed the sport.

“Yeah, I think it still shocks me just because I’m still so involved in the sport, one day I think it’ll hit me a little bit differently when I step away from the sport. But I understand the influence that I have, not only on children, but also adults who follow our sports and watch. But it’s still wild for me, “said Simona Bilz (3:19 here). Biles proved her prowess as a formidable gymnast by dominating the 2024 Summer Games. She won four medals in the event, including three golds. She won her first gold medal in the team all-around at the Paris Games, scoring 171.296 points with her team to reach the top of the podium ahead of Italy and Brazil.

She then won her second gold medal in the individual all-around with 59.131 points, beating runner-up Rebeca Andrade of Brazil. Biles won her third gold at the French Capital in the vault event, where she attained 15.300 points.

Simone Biles talked about the reason behind the Gold Over America Tour holding importance for her. In an exclusive interview with Olympic.com published on September 21 of this year, the American gymnast said the Games were the “result” of taking care of her mental health and working hard.

“Of course, we wanted to share this story of, ‘It’s okay to not be okay, but this story is the result of work and self-care, and where that can take you,'” Simone Biles said. “It’s about what happens after you take care of yourself and what that leads to. So I think that’s the most exciting part of this story and what this show brings to the table.”