It's no surprise to anyone that Simone Biles has dominated the Olympic news coverage. Her incredible talent demands attention, and her performances have proved that attention has been well earned. These 13 fun facts will help you appreciate the powerful gymnast even more.
1. Simone has won 14 world medals.
More than any other gymnast in U.S. history.
2. A gym sent a letter to Simone's home requesting she join the tumbling or gymnastics group after seeing Simone imitate gymnastics on a day care field trip to the gym.
3. She loves pizza just like the rest of us.
4. Simone's birth mom was an
alchoholic and drug addict. She was incapable of watching after her children, so Simone was only with her for her first few years.
5. Simone's maternal grandpa, Ron, and his wife
adopted Simone and her younger sister, Adria. This is who Simone calls mom and dad.
6.Aimee Boorman, Simone's coach, had never trained an elite athlete together. Simone said they both learned together, and have now been together for 10 years.
7. In 2013, she became the
first African-American female athlete to win the gold in the all-around.
8. Her family
owns the World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas.
9. She won the all-around Gold medal in Rio with not only the largest margin ever, but a larger margin than any gymnast from 1980 to 2012
10. Simone has always been fearless, and learned to
do back flips off of the family mailbox before she was even in gymnastics.
11. Her younger sister,
Adria, is also a gymnast.
12. She loves her German Shepherds
13. At 4'8", Simone is the
shortest American Olympian this year. (The tallest is DeAndre Jordan and DeMarcus Cousins at 6'11".)
14. Simone is Catholic. She
carries a rosary her mom gave to her in her gym bag just "in case", and she prays before competitions.
