Our Amazing Journey
Life & Style US|August 19, 2024
Simone Biles and her teammates overcame mental and physical challenges to become champions and take home Olympic gold!
Our Amazing Journey

Her words hurt. After the 2024 Olympic women’s gymnastics team was announced, retired gymnast MyKayla Skinner — a vault silver medalist at the Tokyo Games in 2021 — criticized four of the five athletes chosen to represent America in Paris. “Besides Simone [Biles], I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t what it used to be,” MyKayla, 27, said in a since-deleted YouTube video. “The girls just don’t have the work ethic.” Days later, she apologized.

Simone didn’t forget, though. On July 30, she, fellow Tokyo veterans Suni Lee, 21, Jordan Chiles, 23, and Jade Carey, 24, and newcomer Hezly Rivera, 16, won gold in the team final — and Simone clapped back on social media, pointedly captioning a triumphant photo with her teammates, “lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions.”

All five have suffered on their journey to this remarkable moment, overcoming mental issues, health problems and disappointing performances. Yet they persevered to complete what Simone’s called their “redemption tour” following the U.S. team’s second-place finish at the last Summer Games. “We all had something to prove,” Simone said, “and tonight we did just that.”

CALL IT A COMEBACK

Three years ago in Tokyo, Simone was under immense pressure. After developing a case of the “twisties” — when a gymnast suffers a dangerous loss of spatial awareness while in the air — she withdrew from most events, telling her teammates she was battling internal “demons.” The sports star now understands that part of her mental struggle stemmed from isolation during the pandemic and unresolved trauma from abuse she suffered at the hands of Larry Nassar, a physician who sexually assaulted hundreds of athletes. “I never pictured going to another Olympic Games,” she confessed.

This story is from the August 19, 2024 edition of Life & Style US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 19, 2024 edition of Life & Style US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM LIFE & STYLE USView All
Ben's DATING RULES
Life & Style US

Ben's DATING RULES

Ben Affleck is ready to start dating again! This time, though, the 52-year-old actor has some conditions.

time-read
1 min  |
November 18, 2024
Lori Tells Jacob: PUT A RING ON IT!
Life & Style US

Lori Tells Jacob: PUT A RING ON IT!

What's the holdup?

time-read
1 min  |
November 18, 2024
Angie's Next Chapter
Life & Style US

Angie's Next Chapter

Having finally put the past behind her, Angelina Jolie is excited about what's to come with her career, children... and love life!

time-read
2 mins  |
November 18, 2024
KING CHARLES OPENS UP: Lessons I've Learned From Kate
Life & Style US

KING CHARLES OPENS UP: Lessons I've Learned From Kate

Princess Kate knows the down-to-earth, fun-loving side of King Charles III-and she's urged him to share it with others!

time-read
2 mins  |
November 18, 2024
Pregnant Gisele GETTING MARRIED AGAIN!
Life & Style US

Pregnant Gisele GETTING MARRIED AGAIN!

TWO YEARS AFTER HER SPLIT FROM TOM BRADY, GISELE BÜNDCHEN TAKES BIG STEPS WITH JIUJITSU TRAINER JOAQUIM VALENTE

time-read
3 mins  |
November 18, 2024
Selena's DREAM WEDDING
Life & Style US

Selena's DREAM WEDDING

Here comes the bride!

time-read
1 min  |
November 18, 2024
Anna's ABUSE NIGHTMARE
Life & Style US

Anna's ABUSE NIGHTMARE

Anna Kendrick didn't know she was in an abusive relationship, not at first.

time-read
1 min  |
November 18, 2024
Matthew's Family: WE COULDN'T SAVE HIM!
Life & Style US

Matthew's Family: WE COULDN'T SAVE HIM!

On the one-year anniversary of his death, Matthew Perry's family sat down with Today's Savannah Guthrie to talk about his tragic passing and decades-long struggle with addiction.

time-read
1 min  |
November 18, 2024
NeNe's NEW FACE
Life & Style US

NeNe's NEW FACE

NeNe Leakes is no stranger to plastic surgery.

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024
J-Law & Cooke BABY NO. 2!
Life & Style US

J-Law & Cooke BABY NO. 2!

Jennifer Lawrence and her husband, Cooke Maroney, are expecting their second child together.

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024