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"title": "Star reborn — Simone Biles’s Paris gold a glittering triumph on road to Olympic redemption",
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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the greatest attributes of a great sportsperson is the ability to bounce back after being felled by adversity. To dust yourself off and compete once more, for better or for worse. In the case of decorated US gymnast Simone Biles, her return to Olympic Games action has been positive.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 27-year-old and her compatriots – Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera – deservedly won gold in the team final on Tuesday evening in Paris, watched by tennis great Serena Williams and retired swimming heavyweight Michael Phelps among the spectators.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Americans held off competition from Italy and Brazil to strike gold, the fourth time the US has won the women’s gymnastics team event in the history of the Games.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biles also added to her own Olympic medal haul, taking it to eight (including five gold) from three Games appearances. This to accompany the 30 World Championship medals she has won throughout her storied career that currently sees her hold the title of being the most decorated gymnast in history.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2296503\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12394874.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1740\" height=\"1160\" /> <em>Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during qualification for the artistic gymnastics competition at the Bercy Arena in Paris on 28 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2296502\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12394866.jpg\" alt=\"Biles\" width=\"1762\" height=\"1138\" /> <em>Simone Biles on the balance beam at the 2024 Paris Olympics on 28 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the individual event takes place on Thursday evening, Biles will have an opportunity to add to her already impressive collection, as the most successful American gymnast at the Games. With the team gold on Tuesday, she usurped Shannon Miller, with whom she was tied on seven medals before Paris 2024.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a triumphant return for Biles – who withdrew midway through the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 – citing twisties (a mental block that causes a gymnast to struggle to execute even the most basic moves in the gravity-defying sport) as the reason.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upon Biles pulling out of the Olympics, some dismissed her mental health struggles, labelling her as selfish, unpatriotic and a quitter. Nevertheless, US Gymnastics showed unwavering support for its golden girl.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritising her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many,” said the federation at the time.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/2024-paris-olympic-games-news/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olympic Games Paris 2024</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three years later, she has repaid their faith and support with a golden performance. Commenting on her impressive medal count and the potential to add to it, Biles said this is not at the forefront of her mind in Paris. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I’m doing what I love and enjoying it, that’s all that matters to me,” she said. “Yes, it’s amazing [that I’ve won so many medals]. But I [probably won’t] truly understand the depth of it until I walk away from the sport.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2296500\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12404107.jpg\" alt=\"Biles Paris 2024\" width=\"1858\" height=\"1121\" /> <em>Simone Biles celebrates the US team's gold medal-winning performance in artistic gymnastics in Paris on 30 July August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Change of attitude</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you’re an athlete competing at the level that Biles has been since she announced herself to the world at the 2013 World Championships when she won four medals – two gold, a silver and a bronze – aged just 16, it can sometimes be tough to constantly carry the weight of expectation.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Especially when you’re also walking around with past traumas such as racial discrimination, as well as being sexually assaulted by your national team doctor. Biles was one of the victims of convicted serial child rapist and former Team US doctor </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-01-16-simone-biles-i-was-abused-by-usa-gymnastics-doctor/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Larry Nassar</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since then, Biles has indirectly become an advocate for mental health. It is a role she was initially reluctant to embrace, mainly because even though humans may be experiencing the same struggles in life, how they deal with these varies per individual. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biles did not want to seem like she was dictating to people how to live their lives. Instead, she was making decisions that she felt would benefit her individually in the long term. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now though, she has taken this role and is happy to inspire people. Directly and indirectly.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2296499\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12403664.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1781\" height=\"1120\" /> <em>The US team applaud the floor performance of teammate Simone Biles during the artistic gymnastics team final at the Paris Games on 30 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi‚)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2296497\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12403281.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1694\" height=\"1185\" /> <em>Simone Biles on the uneven bars at Paris 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2296496\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12395221.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1792\" height=\"1122\" /> <em>Simone Biles on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympics on 28 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s really important to use that support system and know they’re there for you and not against you, because at the end of the day, us as humans, we hate asking for help,” Biles told Olympics.com on what this journey has taught her.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We think we can do it on our own, but sometimes we just can’t. So, use every outlet given to you.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of Biles’s outlets include regular therapy sessions and sharing her struggles with family and friends. As she helped Team US to gold on Tuesday, it was evident that Biles has been reborn.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-991772\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/OD-Olympics-Biles-withdrawalMain-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Biles Paris\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1634\" /> <em>Simone Biles of Team United States supports her teammates by carrying their chalk after pulling out after the vault at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on 27 July 2021. (Photo: Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She grew up in a competitive gymnastics environment where she was taught that something as simple as smiling while in competition can be viewed as a weakness. In an environment where even the slightest mistake is frowned upon.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While contributing to her country winning its first women’s team gymnastics gold since Rio 2016, Biles smiled. She made a few mistakes during her routines too. Showing that in the past three years, she has reclaimed her humanity, in addition to falling in love with gymnastics once again.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We show off our personalities and really have fun. But we know that once we get on the floor, we’ve put in the work and it shows in the results. And we don’t have to be put in a box anymore,” Biles said. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"name": " Simone Biles of Team United States supports her team mates by carrying their chalk after pulling out after the vault during the Women's Team Final on day four on day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the greatest attributes of a great sportsperson is the ability to bounce back after being felled by adversity. To dust yourself off and compete once more, for better or for worse. In the case of decorated US gymnast Simone Biles, her return to Olympic Games action has been positive.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 27-year-old and her compatriots – Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera – deservedly won gold in the team final on Tuesday evening in Paris, watched by tennis great Serena Williams and retired swimming heavyweight Michael Phelps among the spectators.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Americans held off competition from Italy and Brazil to strike gold, the fourth time the US has won the women’s gymnastics team event in the history of the Games.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biles also added to her own Olympic medal haul, taking it to eight (including five gold) from three Games appearances. This to accompany the 30 World Championship medals she has won throughout her storied career that currently sees her hold the title of being the most decorated gymnast in history.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2296503\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1740\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2296503\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12394874.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1740\" height=\"1160\" /> <em>Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during qualification for the artistic gymnastics competition at the Bercy Arena in Paris on 28 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2296502\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1762\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2296502\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12394866.jpg\" alt=\"Biles\" width=\"1762\" height=\"1138\" /> <em>Simone Biles on the balance beam at the 2024 Paris Olympics on 28 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the individual event takes place on Thursday evening, Biles will have an opportunity to add to her already impressive collection, as the most successful American gymnast at the Games. With the team gold on Tuesday, she usurped Shannon Miller, with whom she was tied on seven medals before Paris 2024.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a triumphant return for Biles – who withdrew midway through the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 – citing twisties (a mental block that causes a gymnast to struggle to execute even the most basic moves in the gravity-defying sport) as the reason.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upon Biles pulling out of the Olympics, some dismissed her mental health struggles, labelling her as selfish, unpatriotic and a quitter. Nevertheless, US Gymnastics showed unwavering support for its golden girl.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritising her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many,” said the federation at the time.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/2024-paris-olympic-games-news/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olympic Games Paris 2024</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three years later, she has repaid their faith and support with a golden performance. Commenting on her impressive medal count and the potential to add to it, Biles said this is not at the forefront of her mind in Paris. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I’m doing what I love and enjoying it, that’s all that matters to me,” she said. “Yes, it’s amazing [that I’ve won so many medals]. But I [probably won’t] truly understand the depth of it until I walk away from the sport.”</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2296500\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1858\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2296500\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12404107.jpg\" alt=\"Biles Paris 2024\" width=\"1858\" height=\"1121\" /> <em>Simone Biles celebrates the US team's gold medal-winning performance in artistic gymnastics in Paris on 30 July August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Change of attitude</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you’re an athlete competing at the level that Biles has been since she announced herself to the world at the 2013 World Championships when she won four medals – two gold, a silver and a bronze – aged just 16, it can sometimes be tough to constantly carry the weight of expectation.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Especially when you’re also walking around with past traumas such as racial discrimination, as well as being sexually assaulted by your national team doctor. Biles was one of the victims of convicted serial child rapist and former Team US doctor </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-01-16-simone-biles-i-was-abused-by-usa-gymnastics-doctor/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Larry Nassar</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since then, Biles has indirectly become an advocate for mental health. It is a role she was initially reluctant to embrace, mainly because even though humans may be experiencing the same struggles in life, how they deal with these varies per individual. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Biles did not want to seem like she was dictating to people how to live their lives. Instead, she was making decisions that she felt would benefit her individually in the long term. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now though, she has taken this role and is happy to inspire people. Directly and indirectly.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2296499\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1781\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2296499\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12403664.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1781\" height=\"1120\" /> <em>The US team applaud the floor performance of teammate Simone Biles during the artistic gymnastics team final at the Paris Games on 30 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi‚)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2296497\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1694\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2296497\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12403281.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1694\" height=\"1185\" /> <em>Simone Biles on the uneven bars at Paris 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2296496\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1792\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2296496\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12395221.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1792\" height=\"1122\" /> <em>Simone Biles on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympics on 28 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s really important to use that support system and know they’re there for you and not against you, because at the end of the day, us as humans, we hate asking for help,” Biles told Olympics.com on what this journey has taught her.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We think we can do it on our own, but sometimes we just can’t. So, use every outlet given to you.” </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of Biles’s outlets include regular therapy sessions and sharing her struggles with family and friends. As she helped Team US to gold on Tuesday, it was evident that Biles has been reborn.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_991772\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-991772\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/OD-Olympics-Biles-withdrawalMain-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Biles Paris\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1634\" /> <em>Simone Biles of Team United States supports her teammates by carrying their chalk after pulling out after the vault at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on 27 July 2021. (Photo: Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She grew up in a competitive gymnastics environment where she was taught that something as simple as smiling while in competition can be viewed as a weakness. In an environment where even the slightest mistake is frowned upon.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While contributing to her country winning its first women’s team gymnastics gold since Rio 2016, Biles smiled. She made a few mistakes during her routines too. Showing that in the past three years, she has reclaimed her humanity, in addition to falling in love with gymnastics once again.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We show off our personalities and really have fun. But we know that once we get on the floor, we’ve put in the work and it shows in the results. And we don’t have to be put in a box anymore,” Biles said. </span><b>DM</b>",
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Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during qualification for the artistic gymnastics competition at the Bercy Arena in Paris on 28 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi)
Simone Biles on the balance beam at the 2024 Paris Olympics on 28 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi)
Simone Biles celebrates the US team's gold medal-winning performance in artistic gymnastics in Paris on 30 July August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)
The US team applaud the floor performance of teammate Simone Biles during the artistic gymnastics team final at the Paris Games on 30 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi‚)
Simone Biles on the uneven bars at Paris 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Caroline Brehman)
Simone Biles on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympics on 28 July 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Anna Szilagyi)
Simone Biles of Team United States supports her teammates by carrying their chalk after pulling out after the vault at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on 27 July 2021. (Photo: Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images)