"A lot of weight is off my shoulders" - Simone Biles relieved after record-breaking campaign at Paris Olympics 2024

By Marie Amani

Modified Aug 27, 2024 17:38 GMT

Simone Biles has reflected on her accomplishments at the Paris Olympics, detailing what it took for her to triumph. Biles won three gold medals and a silver in women’s artistic gymnastics.

Competing at the Bercy Arena, Simone Biles began her campaign on a high, propelling Team USA to a gold medal in the women’s team all-around. She teamed up with Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, and Hezly Rivera.

Biles then won the women’s individual all-around before triumphing in the vault routine. She claimed the silver medal in the women’s floor exercise and finished fifth in the balance beam event.

In a recent interview with Olympics.com, the 27-year-old opened up about her feelings after her Paris Olympics campaign during a conversation with three-time Olympic champion Aly Raisman. She also reflected on the hard work and effort it took.

"A lot of training with Cecile and Laurent (Landi), a lot of hours with my therapist, making sure all the ducks are in a row so that I can perform as well as I want to. So, after all is said and done, a lot of weight is off my shoulders," Biles said.

"I feel so much better now that it’s done because we know how hard that is especially to attain something that is so big and to just even do it again was an amazing accomplishment to just make the all-around final and then to come out with a gold medal I was like, 'Oh my gosh I did it’ but I still can’t believe it,'" she added. (2:03).

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Simone Biles shares how therapy played a huge role in her Paris Olympics triumph

Simone Biles shares how therapy played a huge role in her Paris Olympics triumph [Source: Getty]

Simone Biles has credited therapy for her bounce back to the top level at the Paris Olympics.

In an interview with Olympics.com, Biles stated that therapy played an important role in her triumph. She added that she felt ‘a sense of calm’ heading into the Paris Olympics.

"Yes, this time felt definitely different and I think I owe a lot of it to therapy, making sure I’m mentally and physically well. So, I can’t say enough things about therapy because that’s where I find my strength nowadays and I think that translates to the competition floor," Biles shared.

"You know, actually arriving in Paris I felt this sense of calm that I’ve never had before for a competition but I think you know like we are so prepared and we’re ready and the hard part is over and now this is the easy part, physically, more mentally. But once I got to the village, I think that’s when all the nerves set in. So, going into it not as nervous and coming out, it was just like a breath of fresh air," she added. (0:35)

Simone Biles was forced to withdraw from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, citing mental health struggles. However, she bounced back at the Paris Games and won gold in three events.

At the Rio Olympics in 2016, Biles claimed gold medals in the women's team all-around, individual all-around, vault exercise, and the floor exercise. She won bronze on the balance beam.