Simone Biles Has NBC Host in Tears Following Surprise New York Appearance

Simone Biles first stepped onto the mat when she was six years old. And since there have been many who have supported her and cheered her on. But none quite like her “gymnastics Olympics mother”! A person who has while remaining a constant on the screens of American households has quietly cheered the queen of gymnastics on. So it comes as no surprise that on the last day on screen for her “Olympics mother”, Biles showed up!

On January 10th, Simone Biles stepped into the TODAY studio in New York to surprise her biggest supporter and NBC TV host Hoda Kotb. And no doubt, Hoda was overcome by a flood of emotions. “I can’t believe you came,” said Hoda. Biles’ response? “Of course, you showed up and supported me,” were Biles’ words that instantly sent Hoda into a spiral of emotions. Confused as to why that is?

Well, the moment while being the culmination of 26 year old television career was also something else for Hoda Kotb. As Hoda holding back her tears, puts it, “I watched you (Biles) grow up. I watched you go to the mountaintop. I watched you fall down and get back up again.” It was a full circle moment of sorts for the host who had covered the ups and downs of the Simone Biles journey. “So what about Biles? What was the “support” that she spoke about?

The Biles-Hoda bond thrives on the shared pillars of the Olympics and the Today show. As Biles herself puts it, “I’ve been coming to the Today Show for years and sharing vulnerable stories which Hoda has given such a great platform to be open and raw.” Over the years, Hoda Kotb has provided gymnasts with a “safe space” to tell their stories. “And it’s just been a beautiful thing that’s flourished,” added Biles. But that’s not all!

Hoda, who has cheered Biles on during Tokyo debacles and then again at the Paris 2024, felt it was perhaps the best way to end her final day. The emotional Hoda even went on to admit, “Before I had kids, I hoped they’d be like you.” Biles adding to the emotional rollercoaster went on to say, “You supported me, and I wanted to be there for you.” However, Simone Biles had arrived with perhaps the best parting gift to give a TV host. A gift that left Hoda saying, “We broke news on my last day!”

A barrage of sisterhood, coupled with a parting gift from Simone Biles!

The clock is ticking not just on Hoda Kotb’s clock at TODAY, but also on Simone Biles’ gymnastics clock. It was not long ago that Biles went on to say, “I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when to be done.” However, amidst the barrage of sisterhood moments, Biles went on to talk about both her and Hoda’s futures!

“Hopefully we’re in LA together, whatever that means,” said Biles. And just like that, Simone dropped a hint that has the gymnastics community excited. Could the queen of gymnastics be returning to the mat for the homeland Olympics? And will the world see Hoda Kotb cheering her on as always? Well, with those words from the queen, both of it is very much on the horizon. If this were to turn into reality, the world would be witnessing two queens of their own accord breaking the barriers of ageism and creating an unimaginable legacy. So what’s next?

Only time will tell. However, one thing is for sure, the world is waiting to see if Simone Biles and Hoda Kotb will make it to LA2028!

Simone Biles Moves Gymnastics Community to Tears With Latest Gesture Toward ‘Olympic Mom’: “You Were a Light”

It’s often media outlets that chase after athletes to appear for interviews, not the other way around. However, Olympic champion Simone Biles made an exception this time for TODAY Show’s Hoda Kotb. As the veteran reporter said goodbye to the show after 17 years, the Olympic gold medalist wanted to be there to surprise her ‘Olympic mom’ on her farewell.

The heartfelt gesture didn’t just move the 60-year-old to tears but also moved the fans. “Thank you Hoda for being team USA gymnasts’ ‘mom’ and biggest fan. You were a light in one of their darkest times, and you supported, cried alongside, and cheered them to GOLD! See you in LA!” one fan commented on TODAY’s YouTube video.

However, the fan wasn’t the only one who cherished Kotb for the role she played in supporting Team USA’s gymnasts throughout the years. Kotb has been a familiar face to Team USA’s gymnasts for over a decade. In fact, the veteran reporter has seen Simone Biles grow up, which was something the NBC reporter mentioned with tears in her eyes.

“I watched you grow up… watched you go to the mountaintop. I mean, I watched you fall down and get back up again,” Hoda Kotb said in the video, wearing an expression of surprise on her face. It was clear as day that among all the celebrities who dropped in to bid adieu to the 60-year-old, the seven-time Olympic medalist equating her to a mother figure moved Kotb the most.

Giving credence to the fan’s comment, Simone Biles revealed Hoda Kotb helped not just her, but all the gymnasts speak about their vulnerabilities. “She’s like our Olympic mom. I’ve been coming to the Today Show for years and sharing vulnerable stories… Hoda has given us such a great platform to be open and raw and to just feel like a safe space,” said the Olympian.

“Hoda is def the best mom” commented another fan after watching the 27-year-old gymnast honor the veteran reporter. Kotb felt similarly emotional, equating the Olympian’s presence with that of winning an Olympic gold. “I don’t have a gold medal, but this feels pretty doggone good right now,” said Kotb. However, besides celebrating the reporter’s illustrious career on NBC, Biles also dropped a major hint about the future.

Simone Biles’ words revealed what may be in store for Hoda Kotb

“What a nice surprise for her last day,” commented a netizen. While it was the journalist’s last day on NBC, it was not the end of the 60-year-old’s career. It was none other than the seven-time Olympic gold medalist who dropped the hint that Kotb isn’t looking to pull the curtains on her career for the foreseeable future.

Although Simone Biles had shown up to honor Hoda Kotb, the news show host couldn’t help but admire the Olympian’s journey. After praising the eleven-time Olympic medalist, Kotb wished the Olympian the best of luck for her future endeavors, and that’s when Biles dropped the hint. “Hopefully we’re in LA together,” said the world champion, stunning everyone in the room.

In fact, Kotb herself seemed surprised at the gymnastics icon’s declaration. However, moments later Kotb broke into a jig, saying, “We broke news on my last day,” responding to Biles’ comment. Kotb had hinted about starting “something new,” but the WCC gymnast was the one who pinpointed what the report might do by the time the 2028 LA Olympics roll around.

Meanwhile, all the speculation and Kotb’s departure led another fan to make their own guess about the NBC show’s future. “Good Luck to Hoda! Who thinks will replace her? I think it’s going to be Savannah,” theorized the fan. However, NBC is yet to reveal who’ll be sitting in Kotb’s chair moving forward. Finally, one fan simply commented on how unique and moving it was to see Biles surprise Kotb.

“That was really special,” commented the fan. And Biles’s tribute may have been the biggest surprise for Hoda Kotb, there was no shortage of celebrities who celebrated the journalist. Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Lee Curtis, California’s former first lady, Maria Shriver, and Gayle King all paid tribute to the 60-year-old’s contribution to media.

However, when all was said and done, Hoda Kotb once again credited Simone Biles. “When I think about all the things I’ve done here over all the 26 years [on NBC], you’re on top of my list,” said the journalist. So, what did you think of the exchange between the Olympic legend and the star report? Let us know in the comments.

Apart from gymnastics and football matches, Simone Biles and her husband, Jonathan Owens’s presence in the basketball games is quite noteworthy. Throughout this time, the gymnast has been showing her support for Houston Rockets, the Southwest division basketball program. In the past, the couple have graced the audience seat in Rockets’ games several times. However, the program is right now in 2nd place in the Western Conference and also thwarted the Lakers’ challenge this week. But recently, both Jonathan and Simone showed up in a basketball game where the Houston Rockets were not on the list. Then?

On Friday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks locked horns in Madison Square Garden. This was the second time the squads met each other on the court. Yet the match received a lot of hype. The reason? Possibly, it was the potential final matchup this season. Furthermore, for Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein, it was the homecoming. The former Knick was at the helm of the center position. So, expectations were high for him. Could he impress Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens?

Not really. The Thunder’s center couldn’t win Jonathan’s vote, despite leading his team to achieve victory. Instead, he showed his support for the Thunder’s point guard. How? Friday, after the game between the Knicks and Thunder, Simone Biles’s husband shared his Instagram story, calling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a “problem.” In the Instagram story, the NFL safety wrote, “Shai is a problem,” sharing Shai’s snap in the story.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens had a much-deserved break from their hectic schedule. Enjoying some exotic food and drinks together, the couple seemed to be having a great time together. However, as much fun-loving as the couple is, both their roots are firmly placed in the realm of sports. Thus, even when in vacation mode, the duo just cannot keep themselves from associating with sports.

In a recent Instagram story of NFL star Jonathan Owens dated January 10, 2025, the Chicago Bears safety posted pictures from their in-game attendance at the Madison Square Garden. Apparently, the duo are currently experiencing the thrill of the NBA as the New York Knicks and the Oklahoma Thunders are fighting it out among themselves. Posting a picture together, Jonathan Owens captioned the Instagram story, “Date Night.”

Simone Biles Seemingly Confirms the Next Step in Her Gymnastics Career After Rampant Retirement Speculation

Simone Biles appears to have just hinted toward her presence at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The gold medalist dropped by the Today studios on Friday, Jan. 10 to surprise Hoda Kotb on her last day with the morning broadcast, where she made a telling comment suggesting the rampant retirement speculation surrounding her recently may be unfounded.

Biles, 27, the most decorated gymnast in history, recently alluded to her retirement in an interview with Sports Illustrated, where she told the publication, “I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when to be done.”

She explained, “Because I’ve accomplished so much, there’s almost nothing left to do, rather than to just be snobby and to try again and for what?”

However, while chatting with Kotb on her final broadcast, the athlete told Kotb, who has already confirmed that she will cover the LA and Milan Olympic games for NBC, “Hopefully we’re in LA together, whatever that means.”

The 11-time Olympic medal winner on her peers at the top of the sporting world.

11-time Olympic artistic gymnastics medallist Simone Biles has been called the GOAT (greatest of all time) for years.

This week, Sports Illustrated quizzed her on some of her peers at the top of the sporting world, asking the 27-year-old to choose between several pairs of athletes on the red carpet for the magazine’s Sportsperson of the Year awards.

“I grew up on LeBron James, so I have to say LeBron James,” said Biles when faced with James or fellow Team USA Olympic champion Michael Jordan.

Next, the gymnast went with six-time Olympic basketball gold medallist Diana Taurasi over James.

“We’re gonna go with women’s sports, so Diana,” said Biles.

Tennis great Serena Williams, a four-time Olympic gold medal winner, was next to face the gauntlet.

“I love Serena – Serena Williams,” Biles beamed.

In the end, it was Williams versus Biles herself.

“Oh, we can both win,” the gymnast said, laughing.

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The annual Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards took place on Tuesday night in Las Vegas, honoring SI’s choices for the most impactful figures in sports in 2024.

Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles won the 2024 Sportsperson of the Year award, following her performance at the Paris Olympics where she won four medals, bringing her total Olympic medal count to 11. In her acceptance speech, Biles reflected on her start in gymnastics and her career accomplishments.

“When I started doing gymnastics when I was 6, I never imagined winning medals and everything I’ve been fortunate enough to do up until this point. I just wanted to have fun and hopefully get a college scholarship,” Biles said. “I’ve kind of surpassed all of that, which is super exciting, but everyday I spend competing alongside my teammates is truly a gift.”

Former teammate and long-time friend Aly Raisman presented the award to Biles, who was also joined by her husband and Chicago Bears safety, Jonathan Owens.