Fresh off a history-making performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone Biles is back on the mat. The gymnastics GOAT is currently on a cross-country trip with the Gold Over America Tour sponsored by Athleta, along with her Olympic teammates Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, and other star gymnasts like Shilese Jones and Kayla Dicello. “One of the reasons I wanted to create this experience was to connect with and empower young girls,” Biles tells ELLE.com. “Not everyone can travel to major competitions to see us, so we’re bringing gymnastics to them and we’re making it fun.”
In Paris, Biles picked up three gold medals in the team event, all-around competition, and vault. On the final day of competition, she also earned a silver in floor. All those wins helped her become the most decorated American Olympic gymnast ever, but for Biles, the Games have always doubled as an opportunity to speak out about issues that matter most to her. Before leaving for Paris, she opened up to ELLE.com in an intimate interview about her work in the mental health space and learning to love her natural hair. “I used to worry about [my hair being considered] not professional,” she says. “But I’m not embarrassed about it anymore.”
And now, as she shares her many successes on tour, Biles says she will continue to stay focused on her goal of getting people “excited about gymnastics.” Ahead of her Barclays Center show in Brooklyn last night, the gymnast took us backstage to see how she gets ready. Spoiler: her pre-competition routine involves some very cheesy pizza.
Rose is the Senior Editor of Features & Special Projects at ELLE.com overseeing features and projects about women’s issues. She is an accomplished and compassionate storyteller and editor who excels in obtaining exclusive interviews and unearthing compelling features.