Simone Biles weaved magic at Target Center, winning the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, forging her name in the history books for the umpteenth time. On the night of winning performances, the 27-year-old Olympic gold medalist created a touching moment with an unlikely fan. Among many fans of the legendary American gymnast, a 106-year-old World War II veteran was in the stands at Target Center.

As the veteran was introduced to the crowd in Minneapolis, they gave him a standing ovation. He took the opportunity to address the seven-time Olympic medalist as his favorite athlete. Touched by the confession, Simone Biles immediately walked over to the veteran, “giving him a wave and blowing a kiss,” according to the Gymnastics Times. The 27-year-old also gave, arguably her oldest fan, a memorable performance.

The former world champion had finished Day 1 of the Olympic trails at Target Center with the lead. On June 30th, she widened the gap. When the dust settled Simone Biles topped the scoresheet with a massive 117.225 total. America’s most accomplished gymnast added yet another feather to her cap. At Paris, the 27-year-old old with the oldest U.S. Olympic female gymnast since 1952.

With her Olympic trial performance, Simone Biles also became only the fourth US female gymnast to qualify for three Olympic games. The gymnastics icon showcased signature moves like the Yurchenko double pike during her vault routine and the triple-double during her floor routine. The veteran gymnast channeled her champion pedigree to finish 5.55 points ahead of Sunisa Lee.

While Lee finished in second with 111.675, Simone Biles’s second Tokyo 2020 teammate Jordan Chiles rounded out the top three. She scored 111.425 points. However, Biles had another special fan in the stands, cheering her on.

Simone Biles had a cheerleader from the Chicago Bears

Among the many fans who had shown up to support their favorite athlete, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens was there to witness his wife make history. The Olympic medalist’s better half never had the opportunity to see Simone Biles compete to earn an Olympic qualification. Owens joined in with the unanimous cheers when Biles dazzled the arena.

The NFL athlete wasted no time after the 27-year-old’s victory to congratulate her on social media. “We going to Paris ♥️♥️. Man, I’m so proud,” Jonathan Owens wrote in his Instagram story. Thankfully, the Bears player included himself, as his team has granted him a short break to catch his wife perform on the grandest stage of them all.

So in a night full of highlights, the heartwarming interaction between Biles and the war veteran stood out. It once again served as an example of how sports transcends generations and brings us together.