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Simone Biles, a four-time Olympian and the most decorated gymnast in history, has been named Sports Illustrated's 2024 Sportsperson of the Year.
The announcement comes after the 27-year-old's remarkable performance at the Paris Olympics, where she secured three gold medals and a silver medal, adding to her 32 total global titles.
Why It Matters
Biles's triumphs in Paris mark a dramatic comeback after the challenges she faced during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. In Tokyo, Biles withdrew from several events due to mental health concerns after suffering from gymnastics vertigo.
She is the first female recipient of the award since tennis and basketball stars Naomi Osaka and Breanna Stewart in 2020 respectively, and joins the likes of Serena Williams and three-time winner LeBron James in the magazine past selections of influential African American sporting titans.
What To Know
Biles has revolutionized gymnastics with her unmatched skill set, including moves so complex that they are named after her. She first turned heads and blew minds during Rio 2016, when she secured her first four gold medals at the age of 19.
"She won gold, and then another gold, and then another; because she changed the face of her sport and the conversations around athletes in general," the magazine wrote.
At the Paris Olympics, she performed the Yurchenko double pike vault, a feat only she has mastered in competition. Despite battling a lingering calf injury during The Games, she emerged victorious in the all-around competition and contributed to Team USA's gold medal in the team final.
Her accolades extend beyond the arena. In 2024, Biles was also named to the Sports Illustrated Power List of the 50 most influential figures in sports. She continues to inspire young athletes worldwide, challenging the narrative around age and longevity in gymnastics.
Before Tokyo, no gymnast older than 20 had won the all-around gold medal in the past 50 years. At the Paris Games, the U.S. women's gymnastics team made history by including four returning Olympians—Biles, 27; Carey, 24; Chiles, 23; and Lee, 21—for the first time since 1952.
She will officially receive the award at the Sports Illustrated annual awards ceremony on Jan. 7, 2025, at the Wynn Las Vegas, hosted by actor Keegan-Michael Key.
What People Are Saying
Simone Biles, speaking to Sports Illustrated said: "I don't think the reality has set in of what I've exactly done in the sport," she says. "I can see it, and I hear it from people, and I see a glimpse of it, but the full magnitude I don't think I've realized just yet. I don't think I'll realize 'til maybe I retire and look back in a couple years."
Aly Raisman, a former teammate and Olympic gold medalist said: "After Tokyo, I said to [her] 'There has to be so many people around the world that were suffering in silence and struggling with their mental health. You have no idea how many of those people you helped.' She helps people feel less alone."
What Happens Next
Biles has not ruled out competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but remains undecided about her future in gymnastics. "I've accomplished so much, there's almost nothing left to do," she said. For now, Biles is focused on other endeavors, including her work with Friends of the Children, a nonprofit supporting foster youth, and her plans to design a new Athleta collection in 2025.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
About the writer
Shannon McDonagh is a Newsweek content reporter based in London. Her focus is reporting breaking wire stories across international politics ... Read more