Well, it can be safely said Simone Biles started the New Year with a bang! The current and arguably the most successful gymnast from the United States just received yet another shiny jewel to her crown. Biles is still on her winning streak: after amazing everyone and herself in Paris, where she won three gold medals and one silver, Biles has made it 32 international titles in total. Her transformation from experiencing ‘twisties’ in Tokyo to an absolutely liberated and powerful comeback in Paris has been legendary.

Now the recognition never ceases! On January 2, 2025, Sports Illustrated anointed Biles as the 2024 Sportsperson of the Year for her unchallenged reign and perseverance. And now, the three-time Olympian, who’s already rewritten history books, has shared her heartfelt thoughts about this monumental recognition, and let’s just say—it’s pure gold, just like her!

In a freshly dropped video on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel, Simone Biles sat down to tackle ten burning questions—and one of them struck gold. When asked, “What does it mean to be Sportsperson of the Year?” Simone’s response was every bit as golden as her medals.

With her signature grace and humility, Simone Biles said, “I’m so excited to be Sports Person of the Year it’s a big role in shoes to fill. I’m honored because we want to put gymnastics on the map alongside the Olympic year so it’s really cool.” Honestly, could this queen shine any brighter?

Simone Biles has been the biggest game-changer when it comes to gymnastics.  She not only revolutionized the sport but also fought for mental health. However, beneath the celebrations and recently won gold medals, there’s much more about Simone that is yet to be revealed. It is not news that the pressure associated with being Simone Biles is a small one and she knows this too well.

And, no matter how well Simone Biles covers and plays it cool, she does acknowledge the pressures in her own words as she posted in Instagram in July 2021, “I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard.” And guess what? It’s not just Simone who is all the feels after her latest wins–other icons are equally hyped! They’re all saying how proud they are of Simone and her journey.

Simone Biles receives all the love from other icons!

When SI dropped the news on X, Mikaela Shiffrin was quick to jump in, sharing her excitement: “So deserved! Love to see it, @Simone_Biles!” I mean, come on, how awesome is it to watch these two legends motivate each other? Simone became the first Olympian in the last decade to win the SI Sportsperson of the Year award since LeBron James in 2012. Still, as you can imagine, Simone said it has not fully dawned on her that she has achieved all that. She said, “I don’t think the reality has set in of what I’ve exactly done in the sport. I can see it, and I hear it from people, and I see a glimpse of it, but the full magnitude I don’t think I’ve realized just yet.” 

The official award for Simone is just around the corner, she will receive it on the 7th of January in Las Vegas at the Sportsperson of the Year event. But of course, Simone’s achievements are not only shocking everyone outside her close circle, but they are also making a splash in her circle as well. Her husband Jonathan Owens could not be happier for her – he reposted the news on his Instagram story twice, “So proud of you baby,” and a message full of hearts and love.

Simone’s childhood coach, Aimee Boorman, also joined in, sharing her pride: “Never Surprised, Always Proud. Congratulations @simonebiles.” Adria Biles, Simone’s sister, couldn’t help but marvel at her sister’s beauty, posting about the stunning photoshoot by Shaniqwa Jarvis: “ugh she is so prettyyyyyyy.” And last but not least, Cecile Landi couldn’t hold back: “So well deserved.” The love for Simone is infinite, and it can be obviously seen that around her, she has quite a supporting cast, and now she confidently faces yet another glorious victory in her impressive list of achievements.

Simone Biles donned a jersey in honor of Jonathan Owens which displayed his jersey number

Simone Biles, an American gymnast, showed her support for her husband, Jonathan Owens, on Instagram.

The artistic gymnast donned a jersey in honor of Owens which displayed his jersey number “36”.

“Mr. Biles!”- Simone Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, might’ve helped the Bears break their 10-game losing streak against the Packers, but let’s be honest, that Lambeau Leap? Not the highlight of the day. Sure, he played a huge role in setting up a fumble recovery, but when it came time for the iconic celebration leap into the stands, well, let’s just say he missed the mark. The commentators, Daryl Johnston and Kevin Kugler were practically losing it- half laughing, half cringing, as they watched Owens’ not-so-graceful attempt. It was like watching a guy who had never jumped in his life!

And then it gets even better or worse, depending on how you look at it. After crashing into the padding, Owens tried to redeem himself, but nope, that didn’t happen. He slipped on and fell straight to the ground. Meanwhile, Packers fans, true to form, were pushing him to get off the field as fast as possible, making the whole thing even more awkward. You’d think after spending a year in Green Bay, he’d have nailed the leap by now, but nope, this was not his moment.

Naturally, the internet exploded. People were quick to joke about the whole thing, and commentator Kevin Kugler had the best line: “Jonathan Owens tried it, the former Packer who’s married to one of the great leapers of all time in Simone Biles, who had to be shaking her head when she saw that.” Even one fan commented, “😂😂😂 your wife, gonna be mad at you homeboy 0.9,” One more added, “Help him Simone 😂.” Seriously, can you imagine? Here’s Simone Biles, a literal gymnastics legend who can defy gravity with her moves, and then there’s Owens, barely managing to clear a few inches off the ground before he eats ice.

And, of course, the NFL jumped on the fun too. They posted the whole clip on Instagram with a caption that read, “@simonebiles might have a note or two 😂.” The 27-year-old might have been shaking her head, probably wondering how in the world her husband couldn’t stick a basic jump. Maybe she’ll help him with a few tips on how to land properly because if she can win three gold medals in Paris, surely she can teach her husband a thing or two about sticking a landing. After all, she already taught him a few gymnastics moves! Remember the salute?

Jonathan Owens gets too into gymnastics but learned…

During the Paris Olympics, Jonathan Owens got special permission from the NFL to support Simone Biles while she was competing, even though it meant missing Bears training camp. But let’s be real: he wasn’t just there to watch; he was all in. Simone, 27, was going for gold in the women’s gymnastics all-around final, hoping to defend her 2016 Rio Olympic gold and bounce back from the Tokyo Games, where she had to withdraw due to the “twisties.” This time, she was the favorite, and the Bears’ safety was right there beside her, cheering her on. He wasn’t the only one in the stands, her parents were there too, creating the ultimate support team.

But the 29-year-old didn’t just sit there and watch; he fully got into the gymnastics groove. He even started taking notes on Simone’s performances, just like her parents have always done. Simone explained it after the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, saying, “Jonathan saw my parents taking notes and asked, ‘Where’d you get that? I need one of those.’” And honestly, it’s pretty amazing because Jonathan himself said once, “I never really paid attention to gymnastics, so it piqued my curiosity.” Fast forward to the Olympics, and he was right there jotting down Simone’s scores, getting involved in a way!

But the love and support didn’t stop in Paris. In November 2024 during a big play for the Chicago Bears, Jonathan celebrated with a salute inspired by Simone’s gymnastics routines. After intercepting the ball from the Minnesota Vikings’ Aaron Jones, Owens ran into the end zone and performed a salute that looked straight out of Simone’s iconic routines. It wasn’t just about the big play, he was paying tribute to Simone. But after Owens’ Lambeau Leap failed, could Simone step in and teach Jonathan how to nail the perfect jump next?

That’s because, after that slip, it’s clear he might need a little help from the queen of flawless landings. Maybe Simone could start coaching Jonathan on how to make that leap… or at least make sure he sticks the landing next time!

The Olympic legend Simone Biles was recently joined by her husband Jonathan Owens, the football safety for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League. The gymnastics standout was spotted at Lambeau Field attending the Bears vs. Green Bay Packers for a Sunday football blockbuster. During the game, the Bears achieved a significant milestone as their placekicker, Cairo Santos; WR DJ Moore; Josh Blackwell; Caleb Williams; and Kevin Byard put on a great athletic display to ensure a 24-22 win over the Packers.

Owens also played a key role in the game as he returned the ball 13 yards to the 21-yard line after recovering it from the Packers’ wide receiver Jayden Reed. This win wouldn’t affect the Bears campaign that much; it has boosted the problems for the Packers for their playoff plans.

Simone Biles’ NFL husband Jonathan Owens is ripped by fans after awful attempt at the Lambeau Leap

Jonathan Owens definitely did not learn a thing or two from his time as a Packer, or from watching his wife Simone Biles over the years, as he failed to properly make the Lambeau Leap on Sunday.

Owens’ attempt, which was mocked by fans on social media and by Fox commentator Kevin Kugler, came after a fumble recovery.

To make matters worse after smacking into the padding instead of joining the Packers faithful in the crowd, Owens appears to slip on ice and fall to the ground after landing.

Packers fans did Owens no favors as they always push any opposing players to try to make the leap back to the field as soon as possible.

‘Jonathan Owens tried it, the former Packer who’s married to one of the great leapers of all time in Simone Biles, who had to be shaking her head when she saw that,’ Kugler said.

Owens’ fumble led to a D’Andre Swift touchdown and eventually a Bears win but that did not stop others from making his failed dismount a moment that will live on forever.

‘Opposites attract has never been so true.’

‘Mr. Simone Biles is unathletic.’

‘#ProudWifey,’ another person posted with a trio of laughing while crying emojis.

‘As for NFL WAGs who are themselves elite athletes, Commanders game commentator last week on a Zach Ertz catch: “His wife Julie Ertz the great soccer player would be proud of that controlling the ball with knee and leg.”

The Bears 11-game losing streak ended as time expired on a Cairo Santos field goal, sending Chicago to the offseason on a positive note.

Owens and Biles met in 2020, with him coming under fire last year for admitting he did not who she was before they started dating.

Biles and Owens were married in 2023.

From hardship to glory, she never gave up, that’s Simone Biles in a nutshell. You look at her now, and she makes Olympic gymnastics look like a walk in the park. But the truth is, her journey has been anything but easy. As a kid, she and her siblings went through so much. They spent years in foster care after being taken from their biological mom, who was struggling with substance use. Can you imagine the uncertainty of being that young and not knowing what comes next? And it wasn’t just the emotional stuff. There was a lot of hunger, too.

One memory that stuck with Biles was watching a street cat get fed while she and her siblings were going hungry. She laughed about it later, saying, “They would feed this cat, and I’d be like, ‘Where the heck is my food?’” But she didn’t give up even through all of that. Finally, she and her sister were adopted by their parents, Nellie and Ronald Biles and things began to look up for them. From there, Simone went on to become the most decorated gymnast in the world with 11 Olympic medals. For those who want to unburden themselves like children living in the slums of Uganda and dreaming of having a better life – Biles is their hope!

Simone Biles is helping Ugandan kids to dream big

Separation from her mother, foster care, but hope still remained, and that brought Biles to life through gymnastics! This story has touched the lives of people in different parts of the world including Uganda which is way far from Texas, 8,500 miles away. Among those is the seventeen-year-old- Eric Mayanja who is a gymnast from one of the largest slums in Kampala, Uganda. “I wish to be like Simone Biles,” says Eric with all the optimism. Despite many challenges that he has to face, including a lack of necessary equipment and a place to train, gymnastics is an uncontainable passion of Eric.

Eric is associated with the Kataka Arts Gymnastics, a local Club that offers gymnastic training to over sixty children from the streets and the surrounding. Most of these children, including Eric, have grown up in exceedingly poor families and very poor conditions. However, gymnastics has remained the hope for them. “Gymnastics has been my dream since childhood,” Eric says, he has always had the desire to learn gymnastics. Coach Lugolobi Faizo, a self-taught gymnastics coach, drops ideas into his young students as motivators for their success with no less faith in their capabilities.

But it is not the flips and the twists that these kids love, it is the hope that is gymnastic. They love gymnastics but for some of them, when they finish the training, they are facing many challenges – like they don’t have anything to eat,” says Johnson Kato, another coach at Kataka. However, for these kids, the chance to train or to dream is enough to bring their spirit out.

To them, gymnastics equals an opportunity that allows them to change their lives and have a future they never dreamt of. Like Simone who wished to compete as a gymnast in the Olympics, these young kids also wanted to perform for the world, no matter how big the dream.  “We hope that Kataka can be the first to take a local gymnast to a top competition,” says Faizo. But near this hope is a giant impact of Biles. Not only has she motivated them in terms of athletic ability but through her voice for mental health issues, she paved the way for other Olympic athletes to do the same.

Biles shows that strength isn’t just physical but it’s mental too

Simone Biles raised the bar when she withdrew from some of the events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to mental health issues. It was a risk, specifically, in a culture where athletes are expected to play through everything. However, the same could not be said about Biles who argued that it’s equally important to take care of your mental health. But no matter how much she received backlash for it, even was called a “quitter” but it didn’t affect her! In her own documentary titled Simone Biles Rising, she said, “I didn’t want to be afraid of the sport anymore.”

It was great that Simone Biles started the conversation mainly devoted to mental health issues in sports. She showed that one didn’t have to perform at the extreme to be strong and taking care of one’s self is a sign of strength too. Then other athletes including Naomi Osaka, Adam Peaty, Caeleb Dressel, and Tom Daley came out to speak about their struggles with mental health. And hence, it became a global conversation! Biles’ story isn’t actually about gymnastics, it’s about being present for your own self, and that’s precisely why Biles is such an inspirational figure.

Simone Biles is back in Green Bay for Packers vs Bears game, shares kiss with husband Jonathan Owens

Simone Biles bid farewell to Green Bay earlier this year after her husband, Jonathan Owens, departed the Packers in the offseason. But it wasn’t goodbye, after all. Just see you later.

The gymnastics icon is back at Lambeau Field on Sunday for the Packers’ game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.

Biles was on the field before kickoff and shared a kiss with Owens, who’s in his first year with the Bears.

Owens played one season with the Packers, in 2023.

While he had a few notable moments on the field, his time in Green Bay brought added attention because of Biles.

Biles attended several games last season, including the Packers’ two playoff contests, and her appearances always generated a lot of buzz on social media. Her fashion did as well.

Biles is the most decorated gymnast of all time, with 30 world championships and 11 Olympic gold medals. She won four medals, including three golds, at last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Owens was there to cheer her on from the stands, with his wholesome reactions going viral.

Who’s the GOAT of gymnastics? A question that doesn’t see much difference in the answer, and why’s that? It’s obviously due to Simone Biles. The American gymnast has achieved so much in her career that she’s on everyone’s tongue when there’s an ongoing gymnastics discussion. However, she didn’t achieve this GOAT status in just a single event, but she has had her maturing years in the sport.

Also, for someone who has been in the scene since she was just 6 years old, she has seen everything. There’ve been many moments in her career, but Biles has maintained to stun her audience every time she gets on the mat. However, the gymnast has also met her fair share of critics, but she has always proved them wrong with her prolific performances. This time, too, she has sent out a power statement for the internet trolls.

Simone Biles always wanted to explore at her own pace

Simone Biles rarely succumbed to the criticism she faced. Indeed, she has always been powerful not only with her statements but also through her actions and performance on the mat, which effectively silences the trolls. However, despite the fact that she has been in the sport for a long time, she has always used her experience to empower other female athletes, especially young gymnasts.

The sport is hard, and she knows it. But the challenges have only made her stronger every time she has been on the mat. Every time there’s a big event, Biles always raises the crowd’s expectations, and why so? Her statistics! She has rarely underperformed in her gymnastics career, and people just want her to dominate every time she’s on the mat. However, this burden of expectations sometimes gets carried over to her teammates.

Pressure is never good for any athlete of any sport, and Biles mentioned in an interview with Sports Illustrated, stating, “We don’t ask for that when we’re 6 years old and sign up for it. I wanted to do my sport. I didn’t want people to criticize every little thing that I do. I didn’t want millions and millions of followers. I just wanted to do gymnastics.” Her point? Everyone has their own level of maturing in the sport, and she wants people to understand that time plays a crucial role in such instances.

Even though Biles is the GOAT of the sport, she aspires to achieve her goals in her own unique style, allowing her team to explore their journey in their own unique way. They aren’t robots, but individuals with their own ambitions. Furthermore, she isn’t also fond of the criticism and the trolling. The American gymnast also stressed that she never wanted this popularity; she just wanted to explore the sport, as she loves gymnastics. But do you know, once this adoration completely went away due to a certain problem in her career?

The mental block that almost made her quit gymnastics

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics saw a wave of anticipation and expectations from Simone Biles, as in the Rio Games she secured four Olympic gold medals and a bronze medal. However, the event saw her withdraw after a few performances due to Twisties. These mental blocks hindered the gymnast’s ability to perform, and she even expressed a sense of control over her own body. However, the public’s perception of the gymnast’s situation was not balanced, as she faced a significant amount of hate.

To defend her sister, Adria opened up about this gymnastics-related issue, stating, “It wasn’t like a panic attack. She’s trying one of the most difficult things in the world, and she almost died!” Now, that’s a scary statement. Losing control while performing gymnastics is the last thing a gymnast wants to go through, as any mismatch can cause a serious injury and can also be fatal. Indeed, Biles was scared, not only for her career but for her life. She loved the sport but never expected to go through all this.

“I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when to be done. If you go back, you’ll be greedy. Those are the consequences,” Simone Biles told SI.

“But that’s also your decision to decide. What sacrifices would be made if I go back now? When you’re younger, it’s like, prom, college. Now it’s like, starting a family, being away from my husband. What’s really worth it?”

The four-time Olympian has already made her mark as one of the greatest athletes in history. The gymnast has won 30 World Championship medals, including 23 gold, and 11 Olympic medals, including seven golds. Biles opened up about the toll that the sport has taken on her body and mental health, especially after she pulled out of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“Mental trauma from past years that can’t be swept under the rug anymore, that just is overflowing at that point,” Biles said. Biles recalled the days leading up to the postponed Tokyo 2020 Games, how the lockdown gave her too much time to think and how she felt something was not quite right when she returned to the gym.

While Biles would help her teammates qualify for the all-around finals, she eventually dropped out of the Tokyo Olympics after developing the twisties. Just months later, she would face the US Senate and testify against longtime national team doctor Larry Nassar.

Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in state prison for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and 60 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography, Biles, who suffered at the hands of Nassar, tweeted that it was “impossibly difficult to relive these experiences”

After Tokyo and the trial, Biles worked on trying to find meaning in gymnastics again. She just wanted to feel safe in what used to be her safe place. Her parents and her coaches agreed that she would try to rediscover her love for the sport before she aimed at any particular competition. “The end goal wasn’t even the Olympics,” she says. “It was, like, be happy doing gymnastics again. Feel like you’re not gonna die.”

Biles made a dazzling return to the sport at the 2023 US Classic, with four medals, three of them gold. She then dominated the US championships and the world championships trials. At the 2023 Worlds in Antwerp, she became the first woman to land the Yurchenko double pike in international competition; it became the fifth skill named after her.

The following year, she won the Olympic trials and became at 27 the oldest woman to compete for the US in gymnastics at the Games in 72 years. She would go on to win three golds and a silver at the Paris Olympics.

Biles went on a tour around the US with a cast of elite gymnasts after the Games and hasn’t had the time to digest her impact on the sport. “I can see it, and I hear it from people, and I see a glimpse of it, but the full magnitude I don’t think I’ve realized just yet,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll realise ’til maybe I retire and look back in a couple of years.”