‘Gonna Miss You’: Gymnastics Community Emotional as Simone Biles’ Former Teammate Bids Farewell to the Sport

With the most achievements in the locker and an undisputed authority over the sport, Simone Biles has always played a prominent role in popularizing gymnastics. At 27, she won four Olympic medals in Paris, challenging the notion of age in athletics. Such achievements have established her as a global icon of gymnastics. But there is someone who once gained almost a similar tag by making gymnastics easy to grasp for all. Surprisingly, the gymnast doesn’t have a resume like Biles’s or most other elite gymnasts. Rather, for all he’s done for the sport, he’s often labeled the “unintentional ambassador.” Quite impressive, isn’t it? Still, his impact is hard to ignore. But now, things are trending toward witnessing a change. The individual has recently announced taking a fresh turn in his career.

In the Gold Over America Tour, Simone sent a call to Ian Gunther, not for his phenomenal achievement in Stanford gymnastics. Rather, the 25-year-old had a unique factor. Through social media, he became a global celebrity. His shared gymnastics videos amassed thousands of views and a huge fan following across the borders. Unlike many others, his videos reflect on the gymnastics lives, presenting a way to explore the world closely. This unique feature made Ian Gunther a household name in the USA and many other countries. However, Gunther will no longer be seen on the mat, nor will he take hold of the equipment again.

On December 7, the four-time NCAA champion put a detailed note on Instagram, announcing his retirement. He further noted, “Although I’m no longer competing, my passion for the sport remains unwavering. Moving forward, I’m committed to staying even more engaged and finding new ways to give back to gymnastics and the community that has given me so much.” Nonetheless, his absence in the direct role will be hard to fill. This factor may have made Khoi Young emotional.

In the comment box, the world championship medalist put his heartfelt words, “Gonna miss you man 😢.” At Stanford, both gymnasts spent memorable phases. And it was about all those days when Gunther had yet to gain a global identity. Back then, he was all about someone from Houston who was trying to settle his feet on the men’s gymnastics. But the job wasn’t easy.

In the USA, men’s gymnastics doesn’t have factors like women’s gymnastics does. The NCAA gymnastics has been facing a lack of funds, with many institutions bidding the program goodbye. Furthermore, at the NCAA level, men’s gymnastics does not have many meets. This issue has hurt the sport differently, limiting the broadcasting opportunity. There are a few more issues that have haunted Gunther’s sport. But being a standout, he couldn’t stay a mute spectator. He started doing something to break his boredom. But later, his activities added oxygen to the sport on some levels.

According to Gunther, in 2020, he started to upload gymnastic snippets on social media. In the COVID period, he had nothing much to do. So his thinking was to embrace the fresh activity to break the shackles of boredom. The activity later turned into Ian’s hobby. After all, in four years, he gained more than 1.5 million followers on social media. And folks, can you guess his rate of consistency in sharing videos on social media? It is almost 2 per day. Yet he has never tried to accept his social media activity as his main stint.

Rather, Simone Biles‘s teammate often argued, “I still feel like at heart, I’m a gymnast first.” Soon, he elaborated, “I’ve only been doing social media for four years now. I’ve been doing gymnastics for like 20. I’m taking it one day at a time, breaking it down to one event at a time, and just stressing my training and trying to stay in the moment as much as I can.” Now, that schedule is on the cards to witness a break as Ian Gunther is moving away. He termed his retirement as a “poetic way” to drop the curtain on his career. However, his colleagues and the gymnastics community have found it hard to settle with the emotions.

Simone Biles’s colleagues line up to give flowers to the ‘inspiration’

For Ellie Black, Ian Gunther poses an ‘inspiration.’ The four-time Olympian penned in the comment box, “Congrats Ian! An inspiration to us all ❤️ Can’t wait for the continued memories.” The ‘memories’ may have signified all those moments from the GOAT tour when she, Simone Biles, and many others matched their moves with Gunther on the stage and in the practice room. Another Olympian and GOAT member, Jade Carrey, dropped her message for a fellow gymnast on an emotional day.

In the comment box, Carrey wrote, “you’re awesome ian.” Again the GOAT connection worked to bond the Olympic champion with Gunther. That’s another part of his success. In his phases, Ian never came among the hopefuls of the Olympics. Also, before the US Olympic gymnastics trials this year, he clarified his mindset. He was all set to call the Winter Cup his last elite contest and wanted to retire in the Olympic cycle. The decision was made barring his participation in the Paris Olympics. At last, Gunther proved the reality of his statement. Such values made Kayla DiCello comment, “Proud of you!!” in the space. But what about his contribution to the men’s gymnastics? A fan surely reminisced over that on the important day.

In the comment box, someone put in, “Congrats on an incredible career! Thank you for bringing so much awareness to men’s gymnastics. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for you next!” It is all about his impact on sports, created through the videos and posts in the last four years. Coming from Stanford, Gunther has been able to keep the light on in his alma mater and many other institutions to keep men’s gymnastics in the curriculum. Now, as per his words, he will be continuing to perform that, irrespective of his tenure as a retired gymnast. Isn’t that something magical?

‘Makes Me Sad’: Simone Biles’ Fans Unhappy as $11 Million Earnings Highlight Dark Reality of Gymnastics

The fact that gymnasts aren’t exactly swimming in cash isn’t exactly breaking news to fans, but it was made painfully clear once again in last year’s Sportico list. Simone Biles, despite being the most decorated gymnast in history, found herself in ninth place with earnings of $9 million. Sure, it was an impressive year for Simone—she made a triumphant return to the sport after taking time off since the Tokyo Olympics and clinched the World Championships title. But somehow, even this comeback couldn’t elevate her earnings to match the likes of Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek.

While athletes like Gauff raked in $5 to $10 million in prize money alone, Biles’s “salary and winnings” category on the list was practically empty. Like, zero dollars. Australian Heath Thorpe summed it up perfectly in a post on X: “It is wild to me that you can be as successful as Simone Biles in gymnastics and earn essentially ZERO dollars from prize money.”

Fast forward to this year, and Simone’s performance was nothing short of legendary. She bagged three golds and one silver at the Olympics, proving yet again she’s still the undisputed queen of gymnastics. But, as if mocking her unparalleled talent, nothing changed on the earnings list. Fans were left scratching their heads in disbelief—how could winning three Olympic gold medals and dominating the sport for over a decade have so little impact on her paycheck?

On December 4th, Inside Gym revealed in an Instagram post that Simone Biles is present in Sportico’s list of the Top 10 highest-paid female athletes worldwide. The caption read, “2024 was a golden year for Simone Biles in many ways! Sportico releases its list of the 15 highest paid female athletes worldwide, and Simone Biles tanked 9th on the list, with an estimated $11 million in earnings. Congrats, Simone! Very well deserved, and it’s great to see a gymnast on the list.”

Simone Biles making it onto the Sportico Highest-Paid Female Athletes list was a significant achievement—no other gymnast made the cut, and she was basically the star of the show in a list dominated by athletes from other sports. But here’s the kicker: her fans were anything but pleased. Despite being the only gymnast to make the list, Simone landed in tied ninth place alongside WNBA star Caitlin Clark, both with earnings of $11.1 million.

At the top of the list? Coco Gauff, raking in a jaw-dropping $30 million, followed by skier Eileen Gu with $22.1 million. Then you had a slew of tennis stars like Iga Swiatek, Zheng Qinwen, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, and Nelly Korda—all above Simone. This reality didn’t sit right with her fans.

They were quick to express their frustration, pointing out that Simone’s decade-long dominance in gymnastics—along with her Olympic golds and World Championship titles—should’ve earned her a much higher spot.

Many left unhappy with Simone Biles’ position on the highest-paid female athletes list

Simone Biles is the GOAT, no question about it. But when it comes to cashing in on that GOAT status? Well, gymnastics just doesn’t pay like other sports. The prize pool is basically nonexistent. One fan summed it up perfectly: “The prize pool for gymnastics is nonexistent, so it speaks volumes on how Simone’s net worth is close to $30 million without relying on being paid for her sport while competing. The sum is too small to compare to other sports.”

Let’s break it down: Coco Gauff, who snagged the top spot on the list, pocketed a solid $9.4 million in prize money out of her $21 million earnings. Iga Swiatek, in third, earned $8.4 million out of her $13 million. Meanwhile, Simone Biles earned a mere $135,000 out of her whopping $11 million. Yes, you read that right—$135,000 for the gymnast who bagged three Olympic golds this year. Fans were quick to point out the absurdity of it all. One fan said, “Never thought I’d ever see a gymnast be on a list like this, knowing how their 0 funding behind gymnastics, but of course the GOAT would break into a list like this.”

Here’s the kicker: the Olympics themselves don’t reward gold medalists with any prize money. The U.S. throws in $37,500 for Olympic gold, and $22,500 for silver. So, yeah, Simone probably racked up most of her prize money from there. But that’s peanuts compared to what athletes in other sports make. Take Iga Swiatek, who earned around $2.5 million for her French Open win—talk about a difference!

So how does Simone stack up financially? Well, she’s had to rely on endorsements—and let’s be honest, those deals have kept her rolling in cash. She’s signed with brands like Athleta, Eli Lilly, GK Elite, K18, MasterClass, Nulo, Powerade, Spieth America, and Visa. But even so, gymnastics fans aren’t thrilled about the whole situation. One fan pointed out, “Maybe I’m biased, but she should honestly be #1. She makes all of her money from endorsements If NIL existed before she went pro, she would’ve been the most paid athlete in college for sure.” 

Simone Biles: A Story of Perseverance and Champion

Simone Biles is one of the most successful gymnasts in history and an inspiration for young athletes all over the world. Her journey to the top has been marked by perseverance, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Born in 1997 in Ohio, Simone Biles was adopted by her grandparents at a young age. Growing up, she was a natural athlete, but also struggled with ADHD and was bullied at school. Despite these challenges, Simone found her passion in gymnastics and began training at a young age.

Over the years, Simone’s talent became apparent to all who saw her compete. She quickly rose through the ranks of junior gymnastics and gained recognition at the national level. In 2013, Simone made her senior debut and racked up an impressive number of medals at various competitions.

At the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Simone Biles proved herself to be a true champion. She won four gold medals and a bronze, becoming the first female American gymnast to win four gold medals in a single Olympics. Her performances were marked by her incredible skill and athleticism, as well as her signature move, “The Biles”, a double layout with a half-twist and a blind landing.

Simone’s success has not come without its challenges. In 2018, she came forward as a survivor of sexual abuse by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Since then, Simone has become an advocate for survivors and has used her platform to raise awareness about the issue.

Despite this trauma, Simone has continued to excel in her sport and showcase her incredible talent. In 2019, she became the most-decorated gymnast in world championship history, with a total of 25 medals. Her feats have earned her the title of the “GOAT” or “greatest of all time” in gymnastics.

Simone Biles is not just a world-class athlete, but also a role model for young people everywhere. Her journey to the top has been marked by perseverance, hard work, and an ongoing commitment to excellence. Today, Simone continues to inspire generations with her incredible talent, her dedication to the sport, and her passion for making a difference in the world.

Simone Biles Shows Off Immaculate Game Day Style in Oversized Bears Jacket and Jeans

The star gymnast spent her Thanksgiving watching husband Jonathan Owens and the Chicago Bears take on the Detroit Lions.

For Simone Biles, this Thanksgiving didn’t bring a day spent relaxing at home. On Thursday, the professional gymnast traveled to Detroit, Mich.—to Ford Field, more specifically—to watch her husband, Jonathan Owens, and the Chicago Bears take on the Detroit Lions.

Though the Bears (who are now 4-8 on the season) couldn’t pull off the away game win against the Lions, Biles brought her characteristic good energy to the sidelines—and incredible game day fashion to match. For years now, the 27-year-old has proven herself an impeccable curator of sideline style. Though she’s busy with her own athletic endeavors, she manages to make appearances at a handful of Owens’s games each season and always does so in the best fashion.

This past week, that fashion took the form of classic light-wash jeans, a simple white tee and white high-heeled boots. While chic, the real focal point of the outfit was her oversized Bears jacket. The navy, white and orange quilted nylon number was the perfect vintage touch to an otherwise simple outfit. Plus, it served as the perfect show of team spirit.

Over the course of the NFL season thus far, we have been thoroughly impressed by the sidelines fashion—both the dramatic (think Kristin Juszczyk’s incredibly designed and executed styles) and the understated (like Biles’s basics with a touch of game day gear).

But if we’ve learned one thing from all of these looks combined, it’s that a show of team spirit is an essential aspect of a good game day style. Now, that might sound intuitive, but we don’t just mean throwing on a team T-shirt and calling it a day. We’re talking about something a little more curated and thoughtful. Biles’s recent look is the perfect example. Sure, the touch of team spirit wasn’t over-the-top, but it was certainly thoughtful—and fashionable.

And she’s not the first we’ve seen incorporate good vintage finds into her game day style this season, either. Christen Harper, the wife of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, is an expert at styling good vintage finds. She proved as much last season with her series of electric blue jackets and cropped jerseys. This season, she has continued the tradition.

Over a month remains in the NFL regular season. And we’re sure we haven’t seen the last of noteworthy sidelines fashion this year—from Biles and otherwise. As always, we will report back with our finds.

Jonathan Owens Just Copied Wife Simone Biles’s Iconic Pose on the Football Field

In October, Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles showed major PDA with her husband, Jonathan Owens while attending one of his games, and earlier this month, the couple’s body language spoke volumes about their rock-solid relationship. So, it comes as no surprise that now, Owens is giving a special shoutout to his wife after making a significant play on the football field.

On Sunday, when the Chicago Bears faced off against the Minnesota Vikings, Owens forced a fumble on Vikings running back Aaron Jones—and he wasted no time celebrating. The official Bears Twitter account released a clip of Owens and his team gathering in the end zone, where they paid tribute to Biles by imitating her famous landing pose.

In the video, Owens, with the football in hand, pauses to raise his arms just like Biles, and his teammates quickly follow suit. Meanwhile, Biles gets excited and smiles from ear to ear as she watches along from the suite. The gymnast took to her stories and reposted a snippet of the clip, adding a trio of hearts and laughing emojis.

One fan commented, “So cute, and the team supporting makes it even cuter.” Another added, “The team understood the assignment.”

Owens and Biles have been going strong since they tied the knot in Houston, Texas back in April 2023. They also held a second destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with close family and friends. Earlier this year, both confirmed that starting a family is definitely in their future.

On the Today show, Biles told Hoda Kotb, “Me and Jonathan always talk about kids, and he would have had them yesterday if he could have. Obviously, we both have goals that we want to achieve before we start a family. But yes, that’s definitely in our future.”

Owens also confirmed the same to People, adding that he would support their endeavors, even if it’s not in sports. He said, “I’ll just support them a hundred percent. I don’t want to force ’em and make it feel like you have to do this because we did. That does generally work out for kids.”

Simone Biles Will Work With Snoop Dogg on NBC’s ‘The Voice’ in Surprising Role

Simone Biles is teaming up with Snoop Dogg in a very unexpected way for NBC’s hit reality singing show The Voice.

The seven-time Olympic gold medalist will be joining the legendary rapper as one of his singing team’s mentors in the episode premiering this upcoming Monday. The episode was already filmed, and Biles admitted she had fun doing it, even if singing isn’t her expertise.

“We were able to riff off each other and give the artists the best insight going into the next round,” Biles told The Associated Press. “It was pretty easy, simple. We’re both very mellow. But if we need to bring that energy up, then we can. For us, it was about instilling confidence going into the next week.”

It sounds like Biles’s best piece of advice for Snoop Dogg’s team is how to perform under the lights with everyone watching you, and how it’s best to deal with that pressure. She has competed in three Olympic Games and various other international gymnastics competitions so she knows what it’s like to be in the spotlight.

“She’s a performer. I’m a performer. We’ve performed under extreme conditions. We always do our best. But sometimes things happen behind closed doors that you don’t know about,” Snoop Dogg said. “So, we’re able to speak to those things and give them real reassurance.”

Snoop Dogg worked as an Olympic correspondent for NBC during the 2024 Paris Games this past summer. He witnessed Biles performing on the Olympic stage there, and now she gets to witness his craft up close.