Simone Biles recently left the door open to a return performance at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but comments surfacing in a new video cast doubt on whether her body could handle another run at gymnastics gold.
The 27-year-old (she’ll be 31 at the next Olympic Games) speculated about a return in four years despite being “old.”
Gymnastics tends to be a sport dominated by younger competitors. But Biles wrecked such stereotypes by becoming the oldest American gymnast to win a gold medal in the all-around routine in Paris.
“Never say never,” she later said. “The next Olympics is at home, so you just never know.”
“But I am getting really old,” Biles added with a laugh.
RELATED: Having Dominated Paris, Simone Biles Reveals Potential Plans For 2028 Olympics
Simone Biles Back In 2028?
While her comments about being old were in jest, Simone Biles told fans in a social media video that her body had begun to give signs that it was shutting down towards the end of this year’s Olympics, casting serious doubt on a potential 2028 return.
Viewers know she was dealing with what looked like a calf injury during her final floor routine, at least.
She also referenced the ‘twisties’ that caused her to withdraw from several events in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games due to mental health issues.
“I am really tired,” the most decorated gymnast in American history confessed in a video taken on Sunday. “I feel like my body is slowing starting to shut down, like, it’s ready to be done.”
@simonebilesowens 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 first reserve on bars lollzzzz #gymnastics #olympics #paris ♬ original sound – Simone Biles
The day after the video was recorded, Biles suffered a rare defeat in these games when she slipped off the balance beam and failed to make the podium.
She would bounce back with silver in the floor routine, though she also stepped out of bounds twice during the event.
RELATED: Simone Biles Celebrates Olympic All-Around Gold With Heart Gestures From NFL Husband Jonathan Owens
Fought Through The Trauma
Biles famously removed herself from the team competition in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, playing a large role in the US team only earning a silver medal.
Despite the admission of a tired mind and body this year, Simone Biles explained how she managed to fight through her mental health issues to triumphantly return in 2024. Could she do the same in 2028?
“I never thought I was going to be competing again because that’s how terrified I was of gymnastics and twisting, so there was a lot of trauma there,” she explained, “so I’ve had to put in a lot of work.”
“Shoutout to my therapist and shoutout to therapy,” she concluded.
More about:Athletics