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Reuters

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Reuters

After her historic Tokyo Olympics 2020, Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast of all time. Biles clinched her record-breaking seventh Olympic victory at Tokyo. The 24-year-old now has seven Olympic medals, more than any American gymnast in history.

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Post Tokyo, Simone has become an inspiration for athletes around the world. As she took the bold step of withdrawing from the final event in Tokyo to safeguard her mental health. Adding to her achievements, Simone has now topped the ‘Titan’ category in Times World’s Most Influential People list.

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Simone gets the recognition she deserves

On the court and off the court, Simone has been setting a great example for the whole sports community. While she has spectacular moves when she is on the mat; off-court, Simone is respected and idolized for being her unapologetic self.

At Tokyo Olympics 2020, she backed out from the finals of the team event. Simone was aware if she had continued, she could have got hurt and she took the firm step for herself. Not only athletes, but even celebrities like Justin Bieber related to the mental pressure she must have felt.

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Tennis legend, Serena Williams who herself is an inspiration for athletes around the world, wrote an essay about Biles in the magazine. Williams wrote, There’s something poetic about the way Simone Biles moves. She’s a master of precision, grace and dominance, and at the age of just 24, she has cemented herself as one of the most decorated American gymnasts of all time. “

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Serena Williams praises Simone Biles

The legendary tennis player, Serena, has been a powerful example for women athletes. Williams has been through hurdles in her own life to reach where she is now.

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She also mentioned in her essay on Biles, that she wishes she had Biles to look up to. “I wish I had her to look up to when I was younger and trying to realize my dreams,” she said. 

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Serena further praised Simone for her strength and contribution towards spreading awareness about mental health.

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“By living her truth so loudly and by championing mental health, she is setting new standards of beauty, strength and resilience, breaking down today’s image-obsessed stereotypes and encouraging others to do the same. Simone is a shining example of what success looks like when you let go of what the world thinks and gather your strength from yourself … from your soul.”

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Also read: “Wish I Had Her to Look Up To”: Serena Williams Salutes Simone Biles’ Recent Accomplishment

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Shreya Verma

609 Articles

Shreya Verma is a US Sports Content Strategist at EssentiallySports, with a focus on Olympic sports and athlete storytelling, covering beats like tennis, gymnastics, basketball, track and field, wrestling, and more. A qualified National Level air pistol shooter, she brings the unique perspective of both an athlete and a journalist to her work. Over the past four years at EssentiallySports, she has covered some of the biggest sporting stages, from managing the Olympic Sports desk during the Winter Olympics 2022 to spearheading the US Open 2025 coverage and content strategy. In 2024, she was on the ground in Paris for the Summer Olympics, where she interviewed legends and rising stars, including Carl Lewis, Laurie Hernandez, Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles, Quincy Hall, and Grant Holloway, who memorably offered her the chance to try on his gold medal. She also connected with icons and fan favorites such as Tom Brady, Katie Ledecky, Tara Davis & Hunter Woodhall, Andy Murray, Ilona Maher, Kevon Williams, Jonathan Owens, and Neeraj Chopra, while capturing emotional family perspectives from Nellie Biles, Jordan Chiles’ mother, Suni Lee’s mother, and Katie Ledecky’s brother, Michael. Her journalism is marked by authenticity, access, and a deep passion for highlighting perseverance and human connection in sports. Inspired by Olympic champions like Allyson Felix and Vincent Hancock, Shreya continues to carve her path as a storyteller.

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