Simone Biles became a dominant and inspiring name in American gymnastics when she made her first Olympic appearance in 2016. Since then, she has garnered countless awards. For her athletic accomplishments and contribution to the sport of gymnastics, the Associated Press has voted her the 2019 AP Female Athlete of the Year

A Celebration of Simone Biles

Gymnastics Career

Biles, who is 22 years old, began her career at the age of 6. She immediately fell in love with the sport and began competitive training at age 8. Her Junior competitive career began in 2011, and she moved on to Senior competition in 2013 at the American Cup.

Skills

Biles is known for her diverse skill set and talent in even the most demanding gymnastics routines. Her primary competitive skills include the vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. She maintains a rigorous training schedule to help master complex gymnastics moves like the Yurchenko half-on entry, laid out salto forwards with two twists she performed in the 2018 World Championships.

Accomplishments

Biles’ list of achievements and awards is ever-growing. She won four gold medals in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics for Team, All-Around, Vault, and Floor Exercise. She also received a Bronze medal for Balance Beam.

Since 2013 in Antwerp, Simone has won a total of 19 gold medals in the World Championships for Vault, Team, All-Around, Balance Beam, and Floor Exercise. Alongside these are three silver medals and three bronze medals from various other competitions. She was also awarded two gold medals for Team and All-Around in the Pacific Rim Championships in 2016.

Are you interested in exploring gymnastics? The Gymnastics Training Center of Rochester welcomes children of all ages and skill levels. Their 22,000 sq. ft. Rochester, NY, facility offers classes as well as competitive opportunities, and Special Olympics programs. Students can explore ballet, cheerleading, gymnastics, tumbling, and more—all of which you can learn about on their website. Call (585) 388-8686 to speak with a representative and connect on Facebook for news and updates.