Simone Biles: ‘I hate exercise; after doing it for so long, I deserve a break’

There is no sign of a lack of sleep in the sharp gaze of Simone Biles (Columbus, Ohio; 29). It’s still early, but the American, one of the greatest gymnasts in history — 11 Olympic medals and 30 world medals, 23 of them gold, an absolute record for men and women and more than double the total of her two nearest rivals, Russia’s Svetlana Khorkina (9) and Romania’s Gina Gogean (9) — poses and smiles shyly beneath the glass ceilings of Madrid City Hall. She is the star of the Future Health event, organized by health insurance company Sanitas in the capital. And everyone is watching her: muscles intact, makeup immaculate. Around her neck jingles a chain bearing the surname of her husband, fellow athlete Jonathan Owens, a player for the NFL’s Colts. A dense air of mystery hangs over the room. No one dares guess Biles’ intentions: she has now gone two years without competing, the same amount of time that remains until the Los Angeles Olympic Games, where, if she decides to remain active, she will be 31.

Question. It has been 662 days, almost 22 months, since your last night on the mat, the floor final in Paris. Do you miss it?

Answer. It’s not unusual to miss something you’ve done for so many years of your life, so yes, you could say I miss it. I especially miss the camaraderie, living with my teammates, and even the everyday good vibes with the coaches. But at the same time it’s very nice to have this freedom. It’s a mental and physical break.

Q. You’re doing yoga and Pilates, but not gymnastics. In other words, you’re exercising for fun, not for performance.

A. Not for performance, no. In fact, I think it’s just so I can say I’m doing a little movement, because I actually hate exercise. I feel that after doing it for so long, I deserve a break. And I’m giving myself that privilege. That said, my husband takes me to Pilates, and honestly it’s not fun at all. It’s very hard, pure pain and effort. But he loves it. And I do it because I love sharing it with him.

Q. Listening to you, the question arises: should we still refer to you as an active gymnast?

A. Yes, totally. In fact, if you asked me to do a backflip, I would do it right here, no problem. It wouldn’t be hard for me. It’s true that to compete you have to train, but I still have the physical condition to do what I want. The other day, in fact, I was on the trampoline in my back yard and started doing tricks with my former coach Zoe Miller. We had a blast.

Q. What is the difference between being retired and your current situation?

A. Well... I’d certainly have to train to get back into my best shape. My day-to-day life has changed now, that’s true. Being in shape to compete is very different from being fit for everyday life.

Q. Many people want to see you in Los Angeles in 2028. Is that feasible?

A. I’d say we’re still at about fifty percent. Although I’ll also take this opportunity to say one thing: I feel we should know how to admire athletes while they are active and competing. I’ve already been to three Olympic Games and I feel fulfilled. It’s crazy to see how people always want more and more from you. In the end, the decision will always be mine.

Q. What would Los Angeles have to offer you for it to be worth returning to competition?

A. I think a home Olympic Games is motivation enough, but at the same time I feel our bodies are a bit like an hourglass that’s slowly running out. Right now I’m 29, and although longevity in the elite has advanced by leaps and bounds, it would be a huge sacrifice to try to be at Los Angeles [at 31]. We’ll have to see.

Q. How do you deal with the constant demand for perfection?

A. Sometimes I just ignore it. I feel I’m used to it now, so I limit myself to trying to be the best version of myself every day.

Q. Your body has been analyzed, admired, and questioned since you were very young. Have you ever felt it belonged more to other people than to yourself?

A. No, no. Even when I was very young and everyone analyzed my movements and body type, I saw it as normal. You get used to it. It’s as if God gave me this body and I’ve done incredible things with it. I love the body I have.

Q. How long did it take you to accept that you could also be unwell?

A. It took me a while to accept it, and above all, a lot of help and therapy to finally understand it. But you know, everyone has their own path. I’m very proud to be able to walk mine surrounded by all the people around me.

Q. For years you’ve been the global face of mental health in sport. Does that responsibility weigh on you?

A. I don’t mind, honestly, because I don’t see it as a burden. What I’ve done so far I will keep doing: be vulnerable, open and honest, talk about it and share what I experience with people. It comes naturally to me. I’ve always been like that. And if along the way I can help even one person, I will be more than happy.

Q. Do you feel more fulfilled now than at your athletic peak?

A. I think other things fulfill me now, yes. I’m proud to be married, to spend time with my husband, to go watch his football games. Those are things I couldn’t do before when I was training. My life has changed.

Q. When you look to the future, what keeps you awake at night beyond sport?

A. Honestly, nothing. I don’t think anything I do in life will be as hard as competing at the Olympic Games. So I sleep pretty well at night.

Q. Then what is your greatest fear?

A. Looking back and regretting certain things. At 29 I can say I don’t have big regrets in my life. I can look at the past and be at peace. I want to keep that. I want to keep being able to say I don’t regret anything.

Q. And in all these years at the top, what have you lost by being Simone Biles that you’ll never get back?

A. I’d say the only thing I’ve lost is privacy. And believe me, it can be very hard, especially when you want to go back to being a normal person. In any case, more than a loss, I try to see it as another reality of my day-to-day life. I’m very grateful to be in the position I’m in.

Q. Can you learn to live without privacy?

A. You don’t learn, it just happens. When you’re in the spotlight and everyone is watching you, your intimacy fades away, disappears. Everyone starts photographing you every step you take. And it’s not something you ask for. It just happens. I was very good at gymnastics and the rest came with it. I wish I could get back the privacy I had before.

Q. What dream do you still have to fulfill?

A. To have children and build a big family with my husband.

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