Simone Biles has had a year full of triumphs that are hard to top. After the emotional rollercoaster of the Tokyo Olympics, where she withdrew due to mental health struggles, she made an unforgettable comeback in Paris 2024. She didn’t just return—she absolutely dominated, winning three gold medals and one silver. That moment was just one highlight in her incredible year, which also included the Gold Over America tour, where she spread her magic across the country. But it doesn’t stop there; Simone’s journey is beautifully captured in her Netflix documentary, Simone Biles: Rising, which gives an intimate look into her life, both as an elite athlete and as a person facing huge challenges.
The docuseries, which debuted ahead of the 2024 Olympics, really took off, resonating with so many. It’s not just about the medals and the glory, but it shows the real, raw side of her journey: all the struggles, the mental battles, and the toxic side of gymnastics that she had to face. We get to see the real Simone, the one who’s been through so much but still comes out on top. In the second part of the series, we also see how her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, has been by her side through all the pressure and the ups and downs. It’s been such an inspiring ride for her, and it’s no wonder that the documentary is gaining so much praise.
That might explain why the doc is getting so much love. Recently, it claimed two Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Sports Documentary and Best Limited Documentary Series. And now, it is nominated for a Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award for Outstanding Sports Program! It’s up against some big names, like Formula 1: Both Drive to Survive and Messi’s World Cup are absolutely compelling, but Simone’s tale is one that resonates. The PGA Awards are scheduled for February 8, 2024, and given all the hype, what other accolades could be on the horizon for her—this could be the third award for the doc in 2023 alone! But what was the award count Simone Biles received if her awards were also to be included?
Simone Biles just achieved the impossible!
Simone Biles has quite literally given us a real-life example of what a comeback means! After withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics due to the, ahh, twisties—you know, when she got all confused in midair—she came back in style to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. And just when we couldn’t imagine how it could get any better, she accepted an ESPY Award for the Best Comeback Performance in 2024. She even could accept it remotely in the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, conducted by Serena Williams—what a comeback! But that is even cooler because Simone is the first Black woman to ever win that award. And it’s now been three years running that Black athletes are taking home this prize. Truly amazing!
Then came the Paris Olympics, where Simone really showed the world that she was back in top form. She came home with four medals—three gold and one silver! She snagged gold in the all-around, vault, and team all-around (alongside teammates like Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles). On top of that, she got silver in the floor exercise, with Chiles taking bronze after a little scoring shuffle. Now, with 11 Olympic medals to her name, Simone is a gymnastics legend. Even with all these hurdles, Simone kept pushing, and honestly, it’s this kind of resilience that makes her journey so inspiring. From Rio to Tokyo to Paris, her story just keeps getting better and better!
