Simone Biles Chosen to Carry U.S. Flag At Closing Ceremony of Olympics
Simone Biles carried the American flag during the closing ceremony for the Summer Olympics on Sunday, making her the first American female gymnast to be selected as flag-bearer for both the game’s opening and closing event.
"It's an incredible honor to be selected as the flag-bearer by my Team USA teammates," Biles said in a statement. "This experience has been the dream of a lifetime."
During the competition Biles has won five medals including winning gold in both her team and individual titles in women's all-around, vault and floor exercise. She also won a bronze on balance beam.
"I consider it a privilege to represent my country, the United States Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics by carrying our flag. I also wish to thank the city of Rio de Janeiro, and the entire country of Brazil, for hosting an incredible Games."
Biles is the picture of beauty and grace in Olympic gymnastics competition in Rio de Janeiro. Along with her coaches, even her competition has called her "the best ever," "the perfect 10," and "the best gymnast in history."
MORE: Olympic Profiles in Faith
But Biles' road to Rio was far from easy. She and her sister, Adria, were born in Columbus, Ohio, to drug-addicted parents. They had no relationship with their father and their mother was in an out jail, ultimately losing custody of both of them.
The two girls bounced between foster homes until Simone was 6 years old. In an interview with Texas Monthly, Biles recalled one foster home even had a trampoline, but she was not allowed to play on it.
The foster home bouncing settled when Simone's grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, officially adopted the two girls and relocated them to their home in Spring, Texas.
Ron and Nellie introduced Simone to gymnastics. After a year at a Texas gym, trainer and former competitive gymnast, Aimee Boorman noticed Simone's gift.
Since that moment, Boorman has guided Simone's meteoric rise.
Simone's grandparents also legally adopted the two girls and introduced them to the Christian faith. Faith and family have kept Biles grounded along her journey to becoming the "best athlete in the world."
Biles told US Weekly, "My mom, Nellie, got me a rosary at church. I don't use it to pray before a competition. I'll just pray normally to myself, but I have it there in case."
Since 2013, Biles has earned 10 World Championship gold medals, two Pacific Rim Championship golds, and the all-around gold at the 2015 American Cup.
At 19, she is also the first woman to win three consecutive all-around World Championship titles.
The three-time world champion led the way in the all-around competition in the Olympic gymnastics preliminaries Sunday.
Biles and her teammates Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, and Laurie Hernandez won the all-around team Olympic gold.
