Simone Biles hints at possible 2028 Olympics return; Black gymnasts make history

PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles wrapped up her final day of the Paris Olympics with more hardware for the greatest gymnast of her generation.

The woman who didn’t think she’d even be here a couple years ago will leave Paris — and perhaps her final Olympics — with three golds and a silver, earned Monday when she placed second in the floor exercise.

And though many wondered if this would be Biles’ final go at the global games, given that she is 27-years-old, she hinted with “Today” host Hoda Kotb that we might see her at Los Angeles in 2028.

“I’m just going to relax and see where life takes me,” Biles told Kotb Tuesday morning during a live interview.

Simone Biles competes during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Photo credit: Abbie Parr, The Associated Press

Biles final event marked the first time in her career that she did not win the floor exercise at a major competition. Still, she was part of history.

Biles finished second to Rebeca Andrade of Brazil. Third went to Jordan Chiles, who was bumped to bronze when the U.S. coaches asked for a review of her degree of difficulty on the routine. Together, all three were part of the first time in history that three Black gymnasts shared an Olympics podium.

Gold medalist Rebeca Andrade, center, of Brazil, celebrates on the podium between silver medalist Simone Biles, left, and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles, both of the United States, during the medal ceremony for the women's artistic gymnastics individual floor finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Photo credit: Abbie Parr, The Associated Press
Gold medalist Rebeca Andrade, center, of Brazil, celebrates on the podium between silver medalist Simone Biles, left, and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles, both of the United States, during the medal ceremony for the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Photo credit: Abbie Parr, The Associated Press

Regarding that final event, the review changed Chiles’ score just enough to push her onto the podium, where the three Black women posed together four days after Biles, Andrade and Sunisa Lee, who is Hmong-American, stood in the same spot following the all-around. Their collective success is symbolic of a sport that is becoming more diverse and more inclusive at the highest level.

Prior to the floor exercise, Biles and Lee failed to medal on the balance beam. Both gymnasts made mistakes and wondered if Paris organizers’ decision not to play music during the events created a distracting eerie silence.

Biles is now an 11-time Olympic medalist.

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