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“Go to College…”: Gymnastics Legend Simone Biles Reveals Why She Dropped Out of UCLA

Published 07/20/2023, 10:27 AM EDT

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From defying gravity gracefully on the vault to framing a multitude of accolades to her wall of fame, gymnastics queen Simone Biles has got everything covered. Her outstanding accomplishments have cemented her place among the sport’s greatest athletes ever and inscribed her name in sporting history.

As she embarks on her gymnastics comeback journey in 2023, after her break from the sport in 2021, a recent revelation sheds light on a decision that altered her path. Recently, she opened up about her recent collaboration in which she hinted at the reason behind her dropping out from UCLA.

Why did Simone Biles drop out from college?

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A recent Instagram collaboration between Simone Biles and Axoniuslife gave fans the reason behind her decision of dropping out. She wrote a letter to her younger self in which she subtly discussed the complexities of her prior decisions. The emotional voiceover spoke about the difficulties she encountered, saying, “Hey, Simone, this is it, the decision you’ve been thinking about for months. Go to college or go pro”. She also invited others to share their stories of growth and resilience and to write letters to their younger selves. The focus of the gymnast’s letter is a pivotal career choice she made choosing to compete professionally rather than in college gymnastics.

 

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Gymnastics has many facets and offers two distinct career paths: professional gymnastics and collegiate gymnastics. The NCAA’s program for collegiate athletes is called college gymnastics. It uses a 10.00-point scoring system and places an emphasis on teamwork and flawless routines. However, in professional gymnastics, top athletes compete as full-time paid professionals across the globe. The scoring structure is more flexible, encouraging gymnasts to execute breathtaking moves in order to achieve high scores. Gymnastics has a long history at UCLA, which is renowned for its esteemed academic programs. Simone Biles made the decision to enroll in college and pursue her passion for gymnastics by committing to the UCLA Bruins at first.

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She soared high by opting for her dream

Simone Biles’ journey with UCLA added another layer of intrigue to her already illustrious career. However, as her career soared even higher, she came to a crucial crossroads and was forced to make a difficult decision. She had to choose between her full-time “gymnastics dreams” and her dream of attending UCLA. Eventually, she took a leap of faith, choosing to go pro in gymnastics instead.

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Simone Biles opted for an online college experience, enrolling with the University of the People (UoPeople), which offered the flexibility she needed to balance her burgeoning career and education.

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Biles passionately promoted accessible education for all in her role as a global ambassador for the university, encouraging others to pursue their goals without sacrificing their priorities. While the gymnast made waves in gymnastics as an amateur, her transition to the professional level brought new challenges and opportunities. By choosing to go pro, she focused on honing her skills and pushing the boundaries of her sport. Although it was a difficult decision at the time, it taught her priceless lessons about self-trust and personal development.

Watch this story: Couldn’t be more excited: Simone Biles and NFL Husband Jonathan Owens Embrace the Excitement of New Home Construction

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Written by:

Christaline Meyers

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Christaline Meyers is a pro-writer for Essentially Sports. Having contributed to movies and web series, Christaline delved into sports journalism and like the puck on the ice, has been a force to be reckoned with in the US sports arena. Her experience in writing about the latest WSL event, the recent track and field record, and creative gymnastics routines, found her digging deeper into the minds of legends like Kelly Slater, Usain Bolt, and Simone Biles.
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Edited by:

Purva Jain