PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 01: Gold medalist Simone Biles of Team United States celebrates after competing in the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s All-Around Final on day six of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 01, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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With 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history. Biles’ medal haul comes from three Olympic appearances, spanning seven gold medals and a historic two all-around titles.

Last summer in Paris, Biles and the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team struck redemption with gold in the team final. She then went on to achieve personal redemption in the individual finals after withdrawing from the Tokyo 2021 Olympics with “the Twisties.”

Biles roared back to life in Paris, silencing self-doubt and social pressures with four medals, three of them gold. She left the games as the most decorated gymnast in history, but this week, Biles suggested that her gymnastics story may not be over.

In an interview with Olympics.com, the 28-year-old discussed her career on her terms.

“I’m so happy I was in the stands and not competing,” Biles said of her surprise appearance at the U.S. Classic in Chicago last month. “(Competing) takes a mental toll on you as well as a physical toll.”

Biles added that it takes “time to rest your body,” alluding to her time off since the Paris Games. The U.S. Classic was “really fun to watch,” she shared, adding that she told the competitors to “trust the process” as Team USA looks to rebuild post-Paris.

When asked if she misses her time out on the competitive floor, Biles was tentative. “It’s only been a year,” she said, reflecting on her time in Paris. “I feel like if you ask me in a year, I’ll be like ‘oh, I miss that!’’”

For now, Biles says she doesn’t feel the need to rush back to the gymnastics gym after more than 20 years of training.

“Being right-side up is kind of nice,” she said with a smile.

After all, Paris was a resounding success for the Olympic Champion. She finished on top of the podium three times. “As athletes, you always want to end up on top, and (for it) to be your choice when you end…and Paris was such a special moment.”

She ended her Paris campaign with a silver medal on floor exercise behind Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.

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Biles’ Legacy of Successful Comebacks

Biles completed extremely successful comebacks after both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. In both circumstances, the gymnast took a break during the year following the Olympics. In translation, things are still on pace for a 2028 run.

She returned to gymnastics two years after the Rio Olympics in 2018 and went on to win back-to-back World all-around titles in 2018 and 2019. Post-Tokyo 2021, Biles also took two years to recover, returning to the stage in 2023. She again went on to win the World title later that year and the Olympic title in 2024.

Endless successes and medals or not, “I want it to be my choice when I’m done,” she said. Biles expressed discontent with the thought of medical professionals stepping in to end her career, sharing gratitude for her health throughout her Olympic pushes.

“I don’t want the doctors to be like, ‘Hey, you can’t move on,” she continued. “I’m grateful that if this (Paris) was the end, that I got to choose my ending.”

Though she would be content to finish her career in Paris, the Texas native did not rule out a potential LA 20208 run. The opportunity would be Biles’ first to compete in a home Olympic Games. “There’s more to it…we’ll definitely see,” she said.

When asked if she is completely done with gymnastics in all capacities, Biles responded resoundingly: ” Absolutely not.” Even if she never salutes a judge again, the sport’s most decorated athlete is interested in further involvement in gymnastics.

U.S. Championships Begin – Without Biles

The new era of U.S. gymnastics continues this week in New Orleans, LA, with the 2025 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Though Biles will not be competing, fans (and Biles) anxiously await the crowning of a new women’s champion.

Biles has won every U.S. title she’s competed for since 2013. This week, gymnastics fans are guaranteed a new U.S. National Champion. Stay on top of the action as USA Gymnastics takes on New Orleans.

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