Simone Biles addresses comparisons with Serena Williams and other global sports icons: “Just wild”
Simone Biles has dismissed comparisons with legendary athletes of other sports such as Serena Williams and LeBron James. While the eleven-time medalist acknowledged her role in putting gymnastics on the world stage, she stated she hadn’t contributed as much as Williams and James have done for their respective sports.
Biles is widely regarded as the greatest gymnast in history, and officially the most decorated, both among male and female athletes. Alongside her eight Olympic and 23 world titles, the American has performed some of the hardest skills in gymnastics and continues to do so.
The 27-year-old secured three gold medals at the recently concluded Paris Olympics. From Serena Williams to Michael Phelps, everyone was in the stands inside Bercy Arena to watch her. Speaking in an interview with Olympics.com, Biles reflected on her celebrity status, saying it surprised her every time someone recognized her.
“It still blows my mind everywhere we go that somebody recognizes me because to me I am just still Simone. I try to be as normal as possible and I truly believe I am. But I understand how we have put gymnastics on the map on the global stage so it’s still crazy to me but sometimes it’s scary because everybody knows me and I don’t know everybody,” Simone Biles said. [15:35 onwards]
Biles also addressed the ‘wild’ comparisons with global sports stars such as Serena Williams, saying:
“It’s just kind of weird, when people are like who you are the Serena Williams and the LeBron James of gymnastics, I’m like that’s crazy. The things that they have done for the sport and to think that I have done that for the sport of gymnastics is just wild.”
Biles is surely in the latter part of her career but she hasn’t ruled out an appearance at the L.A. 2028 Olympics, which could add more golds to her glittering career.
Simone Biles appreciated Serena Williams and Venus Williams for their role in paving the way for black athletes in women’s sports, claiming it also had a positive impact on her career.
“The impact Venus and Serena Williams have made, not only in sports but in life, has made a huge impact on my entire career. They’ve paved the way for black athletes as well as black women. I can’t thank them enough,” she said in an interview with Red Table Talk.
Williams has met Biles and attended her events several times since, both in Paris as well as during the ongoing Gold Over America Tour.
