Simone Biles never thought she would win a medal when she started gymnastics

Simone Biles inspired gymnastics everywhere with her recent acceptance speech!

While she accepted her honor as Sports Illustrated The seven-time Olympic gold medalist and Female Athlete of the Year gave a short but powerful speech about her journey from junior gymnast to history maker.

“When I started gymnastics at the age of 6, I could never have imagined winning medals and doing everything I have been able to do up to that point. I just wanted to have fun and hopefully get a college scholarship. “I’ve kind of surpassed all of that, which is super exciting, but every day I spend competing alongside my teammates is truly a gift,” Biles said.

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Biles, 27, took time in her speech to offer advice to the younger generation of gymnasts, urging them to move forward despite obstacles.

“No matter what life throws at you along the way, be the best person you can be, follow your passion and put in the work, and know that I see the gold in all of you,” said Biles to those in attendance Also in attendance was longtime friend and former teammate Aly Raisman, who presented her with the honor.

Elsewhere in her acceptance speech, Biles shared loving words of gratitude for her husband, Chicago Bears player Jonathan Owens, and noted the rise and increased attention of women’s sports in 2024.

On Thursday, January 2nd, Biles was named Sports Illustrated named 2024 Female Athlete of the Year after a record-breaking performance at the Paris Olympics, which served as amends for her early exit from the Tokyo Games, where she faced the “odds.”

In the interview for the feature, Biles hinted that her time as an Olympian may be over.

“Because I have achieved so much, I have almost no choice but to just be smart and try again and for what? “I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when I need to be ready,” the most decorated gymnast in history said of her chances of joining Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to compete.