Set to follow in a long line of athletes with impressive college degrees, Simone Biles originally planned to attend UCLA, and in 2014 the gymnastics star signed her letter of intent. However, she chose to defer enrollment because, at the time, one of the biggest events of her athletic career was looming on the horizon: the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. During an interview with Voice of America, Simone Biles shared, “I was committed to UCLA before I went to the Olympics, and unfortunately — I deferred. And then I didn’t go because after the Olympics things got crazy. I traveled so much.”
Making the decision to prioritize her career as a professional gymnast wasn’t an easy matter for the indomitable athlete. In an Instagram post, Biles said, “It was a hard choice at the time, but it taught me important lessons about trusting myself.” Fast forward a few years, and it’s plain for all to see that her tough choice certainly paid off and gave the world one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.
After mental health setbacks prevented her from advancing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Biles took a hiatus, only to bring the heat (and height) just as hard in the 2023 World Championships. Hot on the heels of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the resilient and dedicated gymnast also received the Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award.
