Gymnastics icon Simone Biles faces a pivotal decision regarding her future, confirming her chances of competing at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles are “50-50.” The 11-time Olympic medalist, currently 29 years old, indicated that mental health considerations will be paramount in her ultimate choice.

Uncertain future: the 2028 Los Angeles Games

Speaking at the recent Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, Biles outlined the tight timeline for her decision. “I feel like we’re still at a 50-50 and that we’re still on a time crunch here now it’s almost half of 2026. We’re going to have to make these decisions pretty quickly,” she stated.

Biles is currently taking a break from the demanding sport, allowing her body to recover, and hopes to begin Pilates and yoga soon as part of her rehabilitation and conditioning. Her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, recently signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts for his ninth NFL season, adding another dimension to her personal life considerations.

Prioritizing mental well-being

The mental toll of elite competition has been a significant factor in Biles’ career, notably at the Tokyo Olympics where a mental block known as “the twisties” forced her to withdraw from multiple events, including the women’s team final. This experience brought mental health in sports into sharp focus globally and remains central to her future planning.

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“Mental health plays a big role in it because, physically, my coaches will get me in shape. I can get myself in shape. We believe in that ability. We’re really thankful that I’m still healthy. Mental is a huge thing and it’s a lot of dedication on that because the road’s not easy. It’s long, but it’s still work,” Biles explained, underscoring her commitment to her psychological well-being.

Biles has been open about her ongoing journey, revealing that she is still in therapy. Her candidness about her struggles, she believes, helped show her authentic self to the world, stating, “I feel like it showed the realness to me because everyone thought I was a robot, she’s not real, but it’s like, down to the core, I’m just like you guys. I’m real. It got me the therapy that I deserved, and I’m still currently in therapy.”

A triumphant return and ongoing recovery

Despite the challenges, Biles made a triumphant return to competition in 2023, culminating in an all-around victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics, as reported by CNN. Reflecting on her journey, she expressed pride in her growth since Tokyo and even her younger self from the Rio Games. According to CNN, she remarked, “To see where I’ve grown from Tokyo and even the 19-year-old from Rio is amazing. I’m proud of Simone for putting in the work and never giving up.”

Beyond her personal journey, Biles actively supports other athletes navigating similar challenges. She met with figure skater Ilia Malinin after his performance at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina and was in touch with Lindsey Vonn following Vonn’s broken leg from a serious crash in the women’s downhill competition at the Winter Olympics.

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Sources: edition.cnn.com, www.cnn.com, www.cnn.com

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