Simone Biles thought her gymnastics career was over after she withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics amid a mental health crisis and is proud of the comeback journey that led her to her second gold medal of the Paris Games on Thursday.
After her stunning withdrawal from Tokyo she took a two year break from the sport to focus on herself and since returning to the Olympic stage has been dominant, leading the U.S. team to the top of the podium on Tuesday and capturing her sixth career gold on Thursday.
"Three years ago I never thought I'd set foot on a gymnastics floor again because of everything that happened," Biles told reporters.
"But with the help of (coaches) Cecile and Laurent (Landi), I got back in the gym and worked really hard mentally and physically," she said.
"I'm just proud of Simone for putting in the work and never giving up."
Biles was the runaway favourite to win the all-around title coming into the competition but was pushed hard by Brazil's Rebeca Andrade before a raucous sold-out crowd at Bercy Arena.
She was quick to credit her therapist, who she said she spoke with on Thursday morning, with helping her develop the tools to stay calm and focused even under intense pressure.
"I'm making sure I'm mentally well and I think you see that out on the competition floor," Biles said.
In the final performance of the competition, Biles crushed her electrifying floor routine before a delirious crowd and was soon wearing a gold medal and a GOAT necklace around her neck.
"I don't want to compete with Rebeca no more, I'm tired!" Biles said at a press conference where she was joined by Andrade and American bronze medallist Sunisa Lee.
"I've never had an athlete that close so it definitely put me on my toes and brought out the best athlete in me."
While Biles is the most decorated gymnast of all time and in the conversation as one of the greatest athletes ever, she still sees herself as the girl who came from humble beginnings to become one of the most recognizable sports figures in the world.
"At the end of the day it is crazy that I am in the conversation of greatest of all athletes," she said.
"I still just think that I'm Simone Biles from Spring, Texas, who loves to flip."
