Simone Biles is, without a doubt, one of the best female gymnasts in the history of the sport. Having won 14 World Championships medals (10 of which are gold), three consecutive World All Around titles, and three consecutive national All Around titles, she has been unstoppable since 2013. However, because of the phenomenon that is "four year fans," or those who only follow the sport in an Olympic year, most people have never even heard of Simone... but very shortly, you will. In order to help all of you "four year fans" seem knowledgable about gymnastics as Rio 2016 nears, here are some helpful tidbits about Simone Biles, the best gymnast in the world and soon to be America's newest sweetheart.
1. She has been undefeated in every All Around Competition since the summer of 2013.
Think about it... at every single competition she has competed in, she has won the All Around. Every single time. She dominates the sport, and seems to be getting better each time we see her compete. At this point, it's questionable whether she can be defeated.2. She is the most decorated American female gymnast and the winner of the most gold medals in the history of the World Championships.
In just three appearances at Worlds, Simone has won 14 World Championships medals, 10 of which are gold, making her a legend in the world of gymnastics.
3. She's 4'9".
She's not short, she's fun-sized.
4. She's absolutely hilarious.
Her Snapchat stories and social media posts often have me laughing out loud.
5. And she's always smiling or laughing.
While executing her floor routine, Simone winks, shimmies, and smiles throughout the entire performance. Off the mat, as well, she's always caught smiling and giggling on camera.
6. She has a skill named after her.
It's called "The Biles," aka a double layout with an extra half twist.
7. She's scared of bees.
Same, girl, same.
8. She's ridiculously relatable.
I find myself liking every single one of her tweets because they're all so applicable to the life of a regular 19-year-old. Whether she's talking about stress, boys, food, gymnastics, or life in general, she never fails to act like a typical teenager on social media.
9. She is obsessed with Zac Efron.
I don't think obsessed is a powerful enough word, but who can blame her? Ellen even gave her a Zac leotard (Simone, we're all anxiously awaiting its competition debut).
10. Her humbleness is inspiring.
Despite being the best in the world, she is always humble. She waves at fans at competitions, appreciates the love on social media, and even let me interview her for a research paper last semester. Simone does not take anything for granted despite her incredible skills as a gymnast. As the Olympic Games come closer, Simone Biles will become a household name, and I cannot wait for her to get the recognition that she deserves. Not only is she an amazing athlete, but she is also a genuine, kind-hearted, and hard-working person, and I wish her the very best in the coming months.