Simone Biles is a gymnastics legend! I reached out to author Joe Hoedel to find out what he learned about her while writing Sports Role Models: Book 1, 2 & 3. I love what this book series is all about, so let’s start there.
About the Sports Role Models Books
A new book series entitled Sports Role Models: Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3 was recently released. Each book features 34 athletes who positively exemplify character, leadership and sportsmanship. Cumulatively these books contain 102 chapters of athletes who are worthy of being called role models. Thirty-seven of these sports role models are female athletes, many of whom changed the culture – like Billie Jean King who formed the Women’s Tennis Association and led a women’s boycott until the US Open agreed to pay women the same as men.
Other chapters feature Kathrine Switzer, who in 1967 disguised her gender to become the first woman to run the Boston Marathon; Danica Patrick, who decided to race against the boys on the NASCAR Circuit and Suzy Whaley, who became the first female president of the PGA of America in 2018. These books tell the untold stories behind the stories you read in the headlines.
For this article, we choose to highlight one of these female athletes – Simone Biles.
Guest Post Spotlight: Simone Biles
Many know her as the most decorated female gymnast of all time. During the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she won four gold medals, including the title of all-around champion. In 2020, she struggled with vertigo, but still managed to win a bronze medal on the balance beam. She has qualified for the US Olympic team for the upcoming 2024 Olympics, and we will be rooting for her success in Paris.
That’s what the public knows about Simone. However, most people don’t know the story behind the story.
Before she was even born, her father abandoned her, and her mother was addicted to crack cocaine. When Simone was 3 years of age, she and her sister were playing in the streets. Seeing these unsupervised kids, a neighbor called Child Protective Services. These toddlers were subsequently placed in the backseat of a state-issued car and driven to their temporary foster family.
Simone’s mother tried to get her act together, but failed several subsequent drug tests. After a few years of living in the foster care system, Simone was formally adopted by her grandparents. From that day on, she called her grandparents, “Mom” and “Dad.”
When she was in pre-school, her class was scheduled to go on a field trip to a farm, but it was raining. The teacher made a last-minute phone call and was able to switch the field trip to a gymnastics gym. The staff began demonstrating different tumbling moves and asked the collective group if anyone wanted to try.
Simone shouted, “Me! I want to try.” Simone was a natural. She caught the eye of a coach from across the room. A few days later, Simone’s grandparents received a handwritten letter from that coach, inviting Simone to take gymnastics lessons.
It would be wrong to say, “the rest is history.” The road to greatness in gymnastics is a tough journey, filled with sacrifices, heart-ache and injuries. It didn’t help that Simone was diagnosed with ADHD and received medication to help her focus. Simone was also one of the 450 females, collectively known as, “The Sister Survivors,” who were victims of Dr. Larry Nassar sexually abusive techniques. Still, Simone Biles made it.
For four consecutive years, she won the all-around world title in gymnastics and by the end of the year, Simone will have proudly represented her country in three Olympic games. She had a rough start, but her courage and character brought her to the top.
About today’s writer, Joe Hoedel
Dr. Joe Hoedel is the author of Sports Role Models: Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3. He earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University. For 20 years, he has served as the president of Character Development & Leadership. He developed two national programs that improve the character and leadership of secondary students, which are used in 3,500+ schools nationwide.
This is just one of the 102 stories that you can read in these books. You can purchase one or all three of these Sports Role Model books at www.characterandleadership.com or by going to Amazon.
Questions for you
What qualities do you admire most in athletes that you consider to be role models? Have you ever been inspired by a sports role model’s personal story or journey? If so, who was it and how did it impact you?
Top photo: Simone Biles at the 2016 Olympic Games, on the podium with her gold medal. Credit: Agência Brasil Fotografias, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
A terrific post, Christy.
I haven’t been inspired by a sports figure, female or male, although I do admire them.
Figure skating, gymnastics and synchronized swimming are the only sports I watch when the olympics are on.
So, I know who Simone Biles is.
I admire her for testifying (with the other women) before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
That act of bravery, to me, is more important than the sport. That’s just me.
I’m glad to hear she is included in Joe Hoedel’s book.
Thank you for this post!
She is courageous, in and out of the gym! She is Simone, and she is so worthy of the feature in Joe’s book. Gymnastics really is fun to watch in the Olympics too. I’m in awe of the beam routines in particular. Have a great day, Resa!
Simone’s story is remarkable, given her dysfunctional upbringing. Hopefully, it will inspire young people in similar circumstances. She is married to Jonathan Owens, a safety for the Green Bay Packers.
I think the challenges made her stronger, Pete. I agree with you about hoping her story inspires others!