“I am focused on healing physically and mentally”

Simone Biles It was one of the great stars of Paris 2024event that marked his return to the Olympic stage after the hard experience of Tokyo 2020, when he decided to retire in the middle of the competition to take care of his mental health, suffering from the “Twisties”. In the French capital, he won three gold and one silver medals, enjoyed as he did not do it and, although he also showed his most human side, he made it clear that he still had talent, energy and desire to shine at the highest level. And as soon as he closed his time at the Bercy Arena, many began to imagine it in Los Angeles 2028. But she said in the last hours that she still did not decide if she will compete in those games.

Wearing an elegant black dress and some high tacos, the American was awarded like the “Best 2024 female athlete” In the 25th installment of the Laureus Premierthe Oscar del Deporte, which was held on Monday at the Palacio de Cibeles de Madrid. And after the ceremony, he assured that his priority remains his health and that he is not sure to want to leave everything aside once more to face another Olympic cycle.

“Right now I am still focused on healing physically and mentally, because participating in the Olympic Games really affects your body. Going to Paris was almost a relief because I had been training so long. And I didn’t have so long spending time with my family, my friends, my husband … because I sacrificed that to focus on those games. So I am enjoying this free time, before deciding if I want to return to the gym and compete “he reflected who with 11 Olympic medals and 30 world podiums It is the most award -winning gymnast of all time.

“Many people think it is a commitment of only one year, but in reality they are the four years prior to the Olympic Games. I am not sure to be able to make that decision yet, it is a long training process. I don’t know if I have energy, I’m getting old, I’m already 28 years old … “he commented with laughter, with his characteristic sympathy.

But assured: “It is in Los Angeles, it is again in the United States, which is very exciting. Although I am not so sure of whether I am going to compete again, I will be in those Olympic Games. If it is not in the tapestry, in the stands “.

After passing through Tokyo, where he chose not to compete in the final of the team test (and in other individual) and acknowledged that he sometimes felt “The weight of the world on his shoulders”Biles became one of the most visible faces in the struggle of athletes to expose and raise awareness of the importance of Mental health care. And she, aware of how much they impact each of her words, reflects on the subject every time she can. The sport gala in Madrid was no exception.

“The most important thing is that my mental health is as well as it can be”he said. “Mental work has been the hardest, presenting yourself in a situation in which you feel that it is a negative space or that you can fail is always the most difficult. Being vulnerable is difficult. I still in therapy, pushing me and making my mental trip, that I know that it will not be linear. I am grateful for life of having had access to it and knowing that I deserve to have that health”.

Asked about whether I would choose the path of gymnastics if I had the chance to return time, the American -which was one of the victims of sexual abuse of Larry Nassarthe former American team doctor sentenced to 175 years in prison, did not hesitate: “Yes,” he said.

“I think everything goes for a reason. My sister and I were adopted and taken to Texas. One day we went to an excursion, and it ended up raining, something very typical of Texas, so it was ‘Sorry boys, we were going to an oil ranch, but we ended up going to a nursery’. And it was there that my career began in gymnastics. I am not completely sure that, if I was born again, the same steps would take me to gymnastics, but I really hope so, because I love doing it, it has been an incredible experience, “he said.

And he said that despite the difficult moments he lived in sport, of injuries and sacrifices, his passion for gymnastics remains intact.

“When I was young, I had many goals for when it was older. The objectives are changing, but there are always new things to change and there are no codes that tell us what we can or cannot do. It has not been easy to continue with passion, but I think this sport lets us tell our story with our movements and that is wonderful,” he reflected.

Biles received for the fourth time in Laureus Award for the best athlete of the year. He beat the Spanish footballer in the election Aitana Bonmatíto the fondistas Sifan Hassanfrom the Netherlands, and Faith Kipyegonfrom Kenya, to the American sprinter and value Sydney McLaughlin Levroneand the Russian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka.

Simone had already been awarded in 2017, 2019 and 2020, the other three times that was nominated, and was as one of the top winners of that statuette next to Serena Williamswhich also has four (2003, 2010, 2016 and 2018).

The Swedish Garrochist Armand Duplantis He was the other great protagonist of the ceremony. Mondo, Olympic champion in Paris and who last year broke three times the world record of his discipline, was awarded as the Best male athlete and became the second representative of athletics to receive that recognition after Usain bolt (4).

In that category, he beat the Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcarazto the French swimmer Léon Marchandleto the Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar and to the Dutch Max VerstappenFormula 1 tetracampeon.

In addition, the Brazilian gymnast REBECA ANDRADE It was chosen as the return of the year; The Spanish footballer Lamine Yamalrevelation; The football team of Real Madridas the best team; The Chinese swimmer Yuyan Jiangas the best athlete with disabilities; and the British cyclist Tom Pidcockas the best action athlete.

There were also two special mentions. One, the former American surfist Kelly Slaterwhich conquered a record of 11 times the World League and received an award for its trajectory. And the other, for the Spanish Rafael Nadalone of the greatest players of all time, which was recognized as a sport icon. Winner of 22 Grand Slams -14 in Roland Garros-, former world number one, Olympic champion and Davis Cup And retired in November last year, the Mallorcan received the largest ovation of the night and even a reverence of Biles, who presented his trophy.