Simone Biles just added another shiny title to her already legendary career! The 11-time Olympic medalist was named Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year on Thursday, and she’s still soaking it all in. “Honestly, it is such a huge honor,” the 27-year-old gymnast told Good Morning America. “I know the legends who’ve won it before, so to keep gymnastics in the spotlight is super exciting. I was still shocked, even though I know a lot of people follow gymnastics closely, especially during Olympic years.”
Her surprise is understandable. “I always feel a little shocked when I win any award or recognition,” she added with a grin. This recognition comes on the heels of an unforgettable year in which Biles stormed the 2024 Paris Olympics, bringing home four more medals, including gold in the team, all-around, vault, and floor exercise events. With those wins, she’s now tied for second-most decorated female gymnast in Olympic history, according to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
And let’s not forget the incredible comeback: just a few years after stepping back from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the disorienting “twisties,” Biles returned to the spotlight in Paris, proving once again why she’s a force to be reckoned with. Sports Illustrated couldn’t have summed it up better: “Simone Biles is Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year because she won gold, and then another gold, and then another; because she changed the face of her sport and the conversations around athletes in general; because she continues to speak out about issues that matter to her.”
The icing on the cake? The ceremony will be hosted by actor Keegan-Michael Key at the Wynn Las Vegas on January 7, where Biles will accept her award in person. Talk about finishing the year with a bang!
For her photoshoot, Simone 27, slayed in a series of ultra-chic, show-stopping outfits. She wowed in a sheer black bodysuit paired with a sleek skirt, a bold brown snakeskin bodysuit that exuded confidence, and rhinestone-studded shorts that added just the right amount of sparkle. Her radiant smile and jaw-dropping physique truly stole the spotlight, while her head-to-toe glam look was nothing short of perfection. A well-deserved moment for this powerhouse, congratulations, Simone!, well deserved, see a video clip inside…
Images by Shaniqwa Jarvis/Sports Illustrated
