"They only see me at my best, not when I'm frustrated, crying" - When Simone Biles shared her motivation behind joining Dancing with the Stars

By Muskan Sharma

Modified Sep 19, 2024 00:00 GMT

In 2017, American gymnast Simone Biles shared her motivation behind participating in the celebrity dance reality show, Dancing With The Stars, Season 24. That year, the 11-time Olympic medalist took a break from her soaring gymnastics career. Biles had bagged five medals at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. Her intent to compete in the reality show afterward was profoundly focused on showing her “normal” side to her fans.

Simone Biles, one of the most decorated female Olympic gymnasts in the US, has proved her mettle at every championship. She has had the opportunity to compete in three Olympic games, in which she has bagged 11 medals - 7 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze. At her debut performance at the Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Biles impressed the world by bagging 4 gold medals in team, all-around, floor exercise, and vault and 1 bronze medal in balance beam.

After her spectacular breakthrough at the Olympics, Simone Biles took a break from gymnastics. She decided to explore other productive fields, with dance being one on her list. Hence, the gymnast entered the 24th installment of the DWTS in 2017.

During her time there, Simone Biles explained her intent behind participating in the popular dance reality show. In an interview with The Washington Post, the gymnast said that besides wanting to try something new, she wanted the world to know she was “normal.”

Biles further said that people “always see me in the gym,” she continued, “but they only ever see me at my best, not whenever I’m frustrated, crying, trying to learn something. So they think I’m perfect, but no one is.”

Biles partnered with Sasha Farber, an Australian-American dancer on DWTS. Despite having a series of outstanding performances at the show, the duo ended in fourth place. She was not the first gymnast to participate in a dance reality show. Laurie Hernandez, Aly Raisman, and Nastia Liukin had competed on the show in the previous seasons.

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Simone Biles’ reaction to her elimination from Dancing With The Stars

Simone Biles and Sasha Farber at "Dancing With The Stars" Season 24 - April 3, 2017 - Arrivals - Source: Getty

Simone Biles showcased great versatility on Dancing With The Stars with her partner Sasha Farber. The duo delivered a bunch of dance forms like Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, and Paso Doble. Moreover, before their elimination, they received perfect scores from judges.

Unfortunately, the gymnast finished at the fourth place, a call taken due to fan voting. Her shocking elimination was equally unbelievable for the audiences and judges.

However, Biles didn’t react to the voting results on the show. She opened up about to E! in an interview, days after returning from DWTS. She said,

“We heard everyone, and I think everyone’s a little bit shocked.”

Furthermore, the gymnast reflected on her journey on DWTS. She reckoned,

“Yes, this is a journey that I’ve embarked on, and I’ve done things. I’ve never danced in heels, never danced with a guy, so I feel like I’ve won a lot. I’ve won a friendship for life [with Farber]. I’ve been non-stop since the Olympics. I’ll have a week off.”

After a year’s break, Simone Biles made a strong comeback at the 2018 World Championships in Doha, winning four gold medals and one bronze medal.