Simone Biles Named Female Olympic Athlete of the Year at 2019 Team USA Awards after Making History
Simone Biles is hailed "Female Olympic Athlete of the Year" by her team after becoming the most decorated gymnast in the world due to her historic win in Germany.
The accolades keep on pouring for Simone Biles who was just recently named “Female Olympic Athlete of the Year.” Team USA awarded Biles with the prestigious title as a culmination to the 22-year-old’s amazing year.
MOST DECORATED GYMNAST TO DATE
Biles famously nailed two signature moves during her routines at the world championships in Stuttgart, Germany last month. She made history by successfully performing a triple-double during her floor routine and a double-double dismount on the balance beam. The triple-double has since been named the “Biles II” in honor of her outstanding feat.
Simone Biles performing a floor routine during the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany on October 10, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images
Apart from this, Biles is the most decorated gymnast in the world championship with 19 world titles to date. She won her fifth all-around title this year in Stuttgart. Moreover, she’s known for raking in the most gold medals in a single Olympics. This was during the Rio Olympics in 2016 where she earned four golds.
Biles is currently preparing to represent the US in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. This is possibly her last as she hinted at retiring after the Tokyo Olympics
Simone Biles holding up her haul at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany on October 13, 2019. | Photo: Getty Images
OLYMPIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
With an amazing track record, her efforts didn’t go unnoticed to her USA Team which named her its “Female Olympic Athlete of the Year.” A ceremony was held in Los Angeles on November 19 which coincided with a tweet to announce her latest award.
“Synonymous with making history, synonymous with AMAZING us all every time she competes. GIVE IT UP for the 2019 Female Olympic Athlete of the Year, @Simone_Biles!” read the message of Team USA.
WHAT SETS HER APART
Even former gymnastic greats couldn't help but laud Biles for her exceptional feat in gymnastics. Nadia Comaneci told USA Today last month, “If we’re talking about domination, nothing like that has ever happened in our sport. I don’t think there will ever be anything like that. She’s one of a kind.”
Meanwhile, 2008 Olympic all-around champion turned NBC commentator revealed what sets BIles apart from the rest. “It’s what she’s doing to the sport. She’s revolutionizing it in a way I think no one will ever be able to do or has done. I don’t think that anybody will ever top that," she said.
WHAT'S NEXT
Biles is currently preparing to represent the US in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. This is possibly her last as she hinted at retiring after the Tokyo Olympics. During an interview with USA Today last month, when asked if she was really done after Tokyo, she replied, "I think so. Probably." She reasons,
"I’ve always just thought that I don’t want gymnastics to be my whole entire life. I just want it to be a part of my life, a piece of legacy that I put in the books. Then I have to move on and continue with the rest of my life. Whatever that may be. I don’t know yet".