The Life of Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles

Simone Biles has dominated the American and international stage for years. She'd already won three straight world all-around titles and three national championship crowns before the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. Here's the scoop on what makes her so special. 

Biles is one of the most powerful gymnasts in the sport. She's able to complete incredibly hard skills that few others can manage. She does a huge Amanar vault and performs it with such ease and height that she's drawn comparisons to the 2013 world champion on vault, McKayla Maroney. She placed second to Maroney at the 2013 Worlds. Biles debuted a new Cheng vault early in 2016 that helped her win Olympic gold. 

She easily translates that power to the floor, too, where she competes with a full-twisting double layout, a tucked double-double and a floaty double layout with a half twist at the end – a move now named for her in the Code of Points. She has the energy to spare on both and has won three World titles in a row on the floor. On beam, she performs one of the best full-in dismounts in the world. 

Biles was 2 1/2 months too young to try for a spot on the 2012 Olympic team, but she made her presence known as soon as she was age-eligible to become a senior. Her coming-out party was at the 2013 American Cup, a World Cup competition held in Worcester, Massachusetts on March 2, 2013. Although Kyla Ross and Elizabeth Price were originally the two American representatives, both withdrew due to injury. Biles and Katelyn Ohashi were chosen as the replacement athletes.

Biles made the most of the huge opportunity, placing second in the all-around to Ohashi and winning both vault and bars. It was a successful senior debut for Biles at a big meet: Past gymnasts who've won the American Cup include Jordyn Wieber, Shawn Johnson, and Nastia Liukin.

Biles wowed once again at her first U.S. senior nationals, winning the all-around over Ross by .200. It was an impressive comeback because she had a very rough competition just weeks earlier at the US Classic. But she rose to the occasion at Nationals, performing with her trademark power and showing a new level of confidence throughout the meet. She went on to carry that winning streak to the 2013 Worlds where she captured the all-around title and floor title and earned a silver on beam and bronze on vault.

Biles defended her all-around title easily at U.S. Nationals in 2014, leading the U.S. team to Worlds once again. She then cemented her status as one of the best ever with another gold in the all-around, as well as golds on beam and floor and the silver on vault.

One year later, she matched both feats yet again, winning the all-around gold at Worlds, as well as golds on beam, floor, and with the team. She won a bronze on vault as well. Not surprisingly, she also became the U.S. National Champion for the third time in the row.

Biles led the U.S. Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro in August 2016. The U.S. women were the heavy favorites to win team gold. Biles won gold in the all-around, vault and floor categories. 

Biles was born March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, but she currently lives in Houston, Texas. Her parents are Nellie and Ronald Biles and she has three siblings: Ronald II, Adam, and Adria. Biles likes Italian food and she says her favorite TV shows are ​Pretty Little Liars, Make It or Break It, and Toddlers and Tiaras. She likes to shop, hang out with friends, swim and play with her two German Shepherd dogs in her free time. 

Biles is coached by Aimee Boorman at World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas. She lists floor as her favorite event. She's said that the best thing about gymnastics is learning new skills.

International:

• 2016 Pacific Rim Championships, Everett, Wash. - 1st-Team, AA (did not compete in event finals)
• 2015 World Championships, Glasgow, Great Britain - 1st-Team, AA, BB, FX; 3rd-VT
• 2015 Jesolo Trophy, Jesolo, Italy - 1st-Team, AA, VT, BB, FX
• 2015 AT&T American Cup, Arlington, Texas - 1st-AA
• 2014 World Championships, Nanning, China - 1st-Team, AA, BB, FX; 2nd-VT
• 2013 World Championships, Antwerp, Belgium - 1st-AA, FX; 2nd-VT; 3rd-BB; 4th-UB
• 2013 American Cup, Worcester, Mass. - 2nd-AA; 1st-VT; 1st-UB; 7th-BB;4th-FX
• 2013 USA, Germany, Romania Tri-Meet, Chemnitz, Germany - 1st-Team; 2nd-AA(T)
• 2013 City of Jesolo Trophy, Jesolo, Italy - 1st-Team, AA, VT, BB, FX

National:

• 2016 Secret U.S. Classic, Hartford, CT - 1st BB
• 2016 USA Gymnastics National Championships, St. Louis, MO and Hartford, CT - 1st AA, VT, BB, FX 
• 2015 P&G Championships (US Nationals), Indianapolis, Ind. - 1st-AA, VT, BB; 2nd-FX; 5th-UB
• 2015 Secret US Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 1st-AA, VT, BB, FX; 4th-UB
• 2014 P&G Championships (US Nationals), Pittsburgh, Pa. - 1st-AA, VT, FX; 2nd-BB(T); 4th-UB
• 2014 Secret US Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 1st-AA, VT, BB(T), FX; 4th-UB
• 2013 P&G Championships (US Nationals), Hartford, Conn. - 1st-AA; 2nd-VT, UB, BB, FX
• 2013 Secret US Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 7th-BB; 8th-FX(T)
• 2012 Visa Championships (US Nationals), St. Louis, Mo. - 1st-VT; 3rd-AA; 6th-UB, BB(T), FX (Jr. Div.)
• 2012 Secret US Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 1st-AA, VT; 2nd-FX(T); 6th-BB (Jr. Div.)
• 2012 American Classic, Huntsville, Texas - 1st-AA, VT; 2ND-FX(T); 3rd-BB; 4th-UB (Jr. 2)
• 2011 Visa Championships (US Nationals), Saint Paul, Minn. - 7th-VT(T) (Jr. Div.)
• 2011 CoverGirl Classic, Chicago, Ill. - 5th-VT(T), FX (Jr. Div.)