After the Olympic gold medalist’s coach Cecile Landi detailed she had been feeling a “little pain” in her calf during the 2024 Paris Games, a trailer for the upcoming part two of the Simone Biles: Rising documentary reveals it was more distressing behind the scenes.
In one clip, Simone told her coach frantically, “My calf or something just pulled all the way.”
Later, fellow gymnast Aly Raisman detailed in a confessional interview just how bad the pain was for Simone—and why she persevered.
“I asked, ‘How did you do it in so much pain?’” Aly said. “And she said ‘I couldn’t have people tell me I was a quitter again.’”
Despite the injury, Simone managed to nab four medals during competition in Paris—including three gold and one silver. While the trailer further demonstrated that the 27-year-old felt like she had something to prove after pulling out from Tokyo 2020 for suffering from the twisties, she came prepared.
“I’m a lot happier and I chose to do this,” Simone reflected to NBC News in August. “So, at the end of the day, whatever happens, happens. But I’m in a good spot mentally and physically, so you can’t take that away from me.”
And while Simone was dealing with physical pain during her performances at the 2024 Olympics—and even sported a boot on her left leg afterward—she had also previously opened up on why she was well equipped to handle it.
“I feel like elite athletes are pretty tough,” she told NBC News. “So, we’re just, through pain or pleasure, we’re ready for whatever.”
As for whether Simone will keep pushing to make it to Los Angeles in 2028? She’d rather you not ask.
“You guys really gotta stop asking athletes what’s next after they win a medal at the Olympics,” Simone told reporters at a press conference during the Paris games. “Let us soak up the moment we’ve worked our whole lives for.”
Still, Simone teased she has no plans to fully retire yet.
“Never say never,” Simone added at the same conference of competing in LA. “The next Olympics is at home, so you just never know.”
Leave a Reply