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Paris 2024 Olympic Games
OpinionLetters

Letters | Simone Biles and the beauty of resilience

  • Readers discuss the American gymnast’s Olympic comeback, unsporting behaviour from the Italian delegation, and why the Games should motivate us to appreciate those around us

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Simone Biles of the United States in action during the Olympic women’s gymnastics all-around final in Paris on August 1. Photo: Reuters
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I stayed up late on a recent night to see Simone Biles win an individual medal at the Paris Olympics. You must have heard of her, even if you’re not a big fan of gymnastics.

Biles is considered one of the greatest gymnasts, if not the greatest. Born in Columbus, Ohio, she didn’t have too happy a childhood. Her biological mother struggled with alcohol and drug abuse, and Biles had to be adopted by her grandparents.

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She began gymnastics at six, after visiting a gymnasium for a day care field trip. She became a star at her first Olympics in Rio in 2016, winning four gold medals.

However, in Tokyo in 2021, she was struggling with “the twisties”, a mental block that can leave a gymnast feeling disoriented in mid-air, and she had to withdraw from the Olympics.

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At the Paris Olympics, Biles has been making a strong comeback. The United States women’s gymnastics team struck gold, with Biles as leader. I applauded loudly when she won an individual gold medal in the gymnastics all-around final.

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