Simone Biles has just earned another major title to add to her already impressive list of achievements.
On Thursday, the 11-time Olympic medalist was named Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year. And as excited as she is about the recognition, the 27-year-old gymnast admitted she was still a bit surprised.
“Honestly, it is such a huge honor,” Biles shared on Good Morning America. “I know some of the greats who have won this in the past, so to keep gymnastics on the map is really exciting. A lot of people tune in during Olympic years, and they’ve followed my journey, but I was still really shocked.”
She added, “I feel like I’m always surprised when I win any kind of award or recognition.”
This honor comes after an incredible year for Biles, where she absolutely dominated at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She walked away with four new medals—three golds and one silver—in the team, all-around, vault, and floor exercise events. With those wins, Biles is now tied for the second-most decorated female gymnast in Olympic history, according to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Her achievements in Paris were all the more remarkable considering she made a stunning return to competition after withdrawing from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to a condition called “the twisties”—a dangerous mental block where a gymnast’s mind and body aren’t in sync. Despite the struggles, Biles bounced back stronger than ever in Paris.
As Sports Illustrated put it, Biles earned the title of Sportsperson of the Year because of how she dominated in Paris, revolutionized her sport, and used her platform to speak up on important issues. “Simone Biles is Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year because she won gold, and then another gold, and then another; because she changed the face of her sport and the conversations around athletes in general; because she continues to speak out about issues that matter to her,” the magazine wrote. “And perhaps most of all because after she wondered aloud to teammate Jordan Chiles whether she was about to relive the darkest period of her career, she took a deep breath, saluted the judges, and broke into a run.”
Biles will officially receive her award in person on January 7, when Sports Illustrated hosts its annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas. A well-deserved honor for one of the greatest gymnasts of all time!
