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It’s the final Friday of the 2024 Olympics, and Simone Biles–arguably the most visible athlete of the entire Games–is sitting in a glam chair at a photoshoot for her partner, the sports and leisurewear brand Athleta. The soft Parisian summer light floats in through the door, mingling with the vanity mirror’s bulbs; Biles is at ease, and downright glowing. As she should be: she has just won multiple medals, including the women’s gymnastics team and individual all-around competitions.
“We needed these Games,” she says, almost with an exhale. “It’s been like a little bit of world peace. And since we didn’t have this quite in Tokyo, everyone was so hyped for this Olympics. I do think this one will go down in history.”
Biles, who has worked with Athleta since 2021, is launching a new collection today with the popular GAP-owned label. She is in this Paris apartment to photograph a small campaign for its debut. “Since it comes out close to the fall, we tried to keep it pretty neutral,” Biles says. “But there’s still a nice pop of color, and, all together, I think it’s something that looks nice for the season.” Her diamond-studded goat necklace–which she started wearing to much fanfare after her wins–flashes as a makeup artist applies a bit of eye-shadow. “Athleta is for women, by women. They know exactly what to do to kind of make it go from the gym to work, work to the gym, back and forth. I honestly partnered with them because they support me and me all of endeavors… they were like, well, what do you want outside of the gym?”
The collection features pieces such as an aviator jacket, a hoodie, and leggings (with lots of the color navy). Each item is in line with Biles’s own eye and style. “Even if I have to dress up, I’ll try to make it it, like, a chic athleisurewear look,” she says.
Paris had been a banner, affirming Games for Biles–it’s no wonder she’s in high spirits. After suffering three years ago from the “twisties,” a disorienting mental block, and pulling out of Tokyo, she returned to the Olympic spotlight in apex form; Biles took the above-mentioned golds, plus a gold in vault and a silver in the floor exercise. At that event–now mired in controversy following a late decision that forced Jordan Chiles to return her bronze medal–there was, at least, a happy start: Biles and Chiles went viral for “bowing” to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who placed first (and who is Biles most dangerous competitor).
“That’s who Jordan and I are as people,” Biles says. “Win with grace, lose with grace, whatever that may be… We really wanted to give Rebeca her flowers in that moment, because she’s been through so much. And for the first time it was an all-Black podium, and we knew the importance of that–how many girls and boys all of over the world would be excited. Jordan was just like, ‘should we do this?’ and I was like, ‘honestly, yes.’ If cameras weren’t there, we still would have done it.”
She pauses, her makeup almost complete. Beneath the pleasantries of the day, there is an encroaching sense of finality in the air, too–it has been a jovial two weeks, but the Games’ closing is 48 hours away, and inevitably, a bit of the blues may lurk on the horizon.
“A lot of athletes, unfortunately, since this is the biggest stage of their life–there’s this thing called post-Olympic Depression,” says Biles. “For two weeks, it’s like we’re rock stars and then after that, it’s like, okay, carry on with normal life. For me, I’ll still be attending my therapy sessions, because I know how important that is for me to be mentally and physically well. So I’ll be ready for my appointments, back to regularly scheduled programming.”
Biles has been a staunch advocate of mental health prioritization and transparency; she received widespread flack and virtual vitriol for stepping away from the Tokyo Games to focus on it.
“I do think we have paved the way, and a lot more of us are very open about our mental health journeys. Yes, at the end of the day, we re elite athletes, but we re also human,” she says. “I think we have strength in our vulnerability, and it also makes us relatable to people. Someone might not be able to throw a javelin or do a long jump or run a hundred meters, but what they can relate to is who we are as people.”
Biles had her fair share of relatable occasions–albeit while center stage–during Paris. One of Team USA’s gymnastics leotards, the retro-nodding red-and-white-and-blue design that vaguely recalled Atlanta 1996’s graphics, was “heavy,” Biles says, laughing. (We’ve all felt the burden of an overweighted piece in our wardrobes.) She also had a fan moment: “You know when you meet someone and you’ve seen them on TV, there’s a feeling like you know them?” Biles asks. “I never understood that. But recently, I’ve been watching so many sports docuseries, and when I got on the Team USA elevator a few days ago, [the tennis players] Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul were inside. I had watched Break Point on Netflix. I got on the elevator like, ‘hi guys!’ Like I knew them! I turned around so awkwardly and I go, ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I just did what people do to me. You guys don’t know who I am.” (Of course, though, they did.)
The photoshoot is about to start, as Biles’s hairstylist tucks a final few strands into place. We bring it back to Athleta, which has a tagline: The Power of She.
“It was super exciting that, finally, 50% of the athletes at the Games were female,” says Biles. (This was a significant milestone: for the first time in history, the IOC allotted quota places for full male/female parity). “We need women in sports. That number was so important as a demonstration to younger generations. It is exciting to see how far women have come in sports, and how we’ve kind of changed that narrative.”
Oh, and one more thing, because we had to ask: LA 2028?
Biles offers a glimmer:
“It’s so funny because on the way over here, I wasn’t sure if I needed to bring my medals. And I’m like, shoot, I don’t even know where they are in the hotel room right now. I think for now, and the next few months, it’s about processing what I’ve done here. But now it’s done, it’s over. I’m going to take some time off this fall, I have a tour coming up, and then… we’ll see.”