“I’m not dead or transferring y’all.” With just that one line on March 23, Simone Biles’ former teammate tried to quiet the growing storm of concern surrounding her absence. For LSU fans, it was a sigh of relief—proof that their star gymnast still had purple and gold in her heart. But as the season wore on, that hope began to fade. Weeks passed with no sign of her on the mat, and then came another update—this time, the gymnast revealed that she had been “horribly sick for almost a month😂.” The laughter in her message tried to soften the reality, but it couldn’t hide the truth: something wasn’t right.

Meanwhile, fans held on, clinging to the idea that maybe, just maybe, Zoe Miller would still make a surprise comeback. But it never happened. 

On May 28, Zoe Miller returned to Instagram with an update—but sadly, it wasn’t the one fans had been hoping for. In a bittersweet post, the 19-year-old gymnast revealed she had undergone a second shoulder surgery, this time on her right shoulder. Her caption read with quiet resilience: “just life doing life things…🥲 pt. 2 featuring the other shoulder.” The accompanying photo said just as much—Zoe, bedridden but smiling, flashed a thumbs-up to the camera, a large bandage wrapped around her shoulder. There were more, though.

Another snap in the carousel added to that quiet optimism: Zoe lying in bed, clutching a balloon that read, “FEEL BETTER SOON.” But it was the caption’s final touch that moved fans the most—a quote from Isaiah 43:19: “Never lose hope. Just when you think it’s over, God will make a way for you.” It was a reminder—not just to herself, but to everyone following her journey—that Zoe Miller isn’t giving up. And her gymnastics family isn’t giving up on her either. Messages of love and encouragement poured in, including one from her former LSU teammate, Sierra Ballard, who commented: “so proud of you. love you so much 🫶🏼.” As for what’s next? 

The road to recovery won’t be easy, but if anyone can flip the script, it’s Zoe Miller. This isn’t the first time Zoe has faced tough setbacks. Last year, just before the Winter Cup, a devastating shoulder injury forced her to make one of the hardest decisions of her career. In an emotional Instagram post, she wrote: “I’ve been trying to find the right words to share some tough news about my health and what the rest of the year is looking like for me. In February, just before Winter Cup, I injured my shoulder.” However, despite months of healing and rest, her recovery didn’t go as planned. And so, with a maturity beyond her years, she made the call. 

“As I am 100% prioritizing my full recovery to be ready for college, this now means my elite career ends here,” Simone Biles’ former teammate wrote. It was a heartbreaking moment for Miller, for her fans, and for everyone who’s watched her grow as both an athlete and a person. And though she sadly missed this year’s college season as well, Zoe Miller’s story isn’t over. Her fans and colleagues don’t want it to be over. 

Simone Biles’ former teammate earns good wishes 

“praying for you zozo!! you’re so strong ❤️.” Those heartfelt words came from Zoey Molomo, a gymnast who knows all too well the pain of being sidelined. The UCLA commit had to step away from the last season because of a knee injury, making her support for Zoe Miller feel especially personal. One warrior cheering on another. The flood of love didn’t stop there.

Dulcy Caylor, Miller’s former national teammate, chimed in with: “Praying for a quick recovery Zoe!” The former national teammate will surely look forward to having Miller on the mat. You can bet she’s eager to see Miller back on the mat, doing what she does best.

From Baton Rouge, another familiar voice joined the chorus of encouragement. Aleah Finnegan, the former LSU teammate, dropped a message filled with fierce love and pride: “Ur a beast. Head up baby I love u❤️❤️” Because once a Tiger, always a Tiger.

And then came the fans—always loyal, always hopeful. One supporter summed up what everyone was feeling: “You’re going to be sooo fresh and ready for next season! So excited for you to kill it. Your time is coming!! ❤️❤️” Each message echoed the same truth: Zoe Miller might be down, but she’s far from out. The comeback season is loading—and the world is watching.