Early Life
Biles was raised in Spring, Texas, by her grandparents after time in foster care, and began gymnastics as a young child.
Career
She won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. After withdrawing from most events at the Tokyo Games (held in 2021) to protect her mental health, she returned to win a bronze on balance beam. At the 2024 Paris Olympics she won three golds (team, all-around and vault) and a silver on floor exercise, bringing her career Olympic total to eleven medals.
Legacy
Several gymnastics skills are named after Biles. She has been an outspoken advocate for mental health and has spoken publicly about surviving abuse by the former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24