Simone Biles recently secured her second gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics during the individual all-around competition. The Team USA gymnast expressed her happiness with the victory but humorously mentioned she needed a break from her close competitor, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, who won silver.
Biles joked to reporters, “I don’t wanna compete with Rebeca no more—I’m tired,” highlighting the intense and friendly rivalry between them. The 27-year-old Biles laughed about the competition, saying it kept her on her toes and brought out the best in her.
Despite the stress, Biles was proud and excited to compete alongside Andrade. She emphasized how the close competition made her uncomfortable and stressed, saying, “I don’t like that feeling—I was stressing!” Fellow Team USA gymnast Suni Lee, who won the bronze medal, agreed, noting she had never seen Biles so stressed. The friendly rivalry and the pressure to perform their best were evident throughout the competition.
Rebeca Andrade was thrilled with her silver medal finish and expressed her hard work and joy at achieving such a high level. Andrade acknowledged the positive impact of competing with Biles, saying, “Simone is the best, and she brings out the best of me.”
This sentiment underscores the mutual respect and admiration between the two top gymnasts. Biles’ victory adds to her impressive Olympic medal tally, bringing it to nine in total, including six golds, one silver, and two bronzes.
In addition to her individual success, Biles contributed to Team USA’s gold medal win in the team all-around final just days before the individual event. During the medal ceremony on August 1, Biles wore a goat necklace, symbolizing her status as the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) in gymnastics.
She commented that the necklace was a nod to the ongoing conversation about her legacy, acknowledging both the admiration and criticism that come with it.
Despite her remarkable achievements and recognition as one of the greatest athletes, Biles remains humble. Reflecting on her journey, she remarked, “At the end of the day, it is crazy that I am in the conversation of greatest of all athletes,” yet she still sees herself as just Simone Biles from Spring, Texas, who loves to flip. Her grounded perspective and ongoing success make her a beloved and inspirational figure in gymnastics.