Simone Biles Flaunts New Goat Necklace at Paris Olympics, Haters Disapprove

Simone Biles isn’t fazed by her critics. In fact, the 27-year-old Olympic gymnast says they drive her forward.

In a press conference following the 2024 Paris Olympics all-around final, Biles opened up about her newly acquired goat pendant necklace. She explained it was motivated by those who questioned her title as the “Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T).” The interview aired on the BBC.

After claiming victory in the all-around final, securing her second gold medal at these Games and her sixth Olympic gold overall, Biles proudly showcased her new necklace. She topped the leaderboard with a score of 59.131, surpassing Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who scored 57.932, by 1.199 points. Biles’ fellow U.S. teammate and 2020 Olympic all-around champion, Suni Lee, earned the bronze with a score of 56.465.

After the win, her teammate Jordan Chiles presented her with the silver necklace featuring the sparkly goat pendant, and Biles immediately put it on.

“It’s a little ode. A lot of people love it, they always call me the G.O.A.T so I thought it would be really special to get one made,” Biles explained to the reporters. “And the haters hate it, so I love that even more. It’s just a special part of me. I also have a stuffed goat in the village to remind me: ‘You can go out there, you can do it, you’ve done it before, so let’s go.’

She added, “But at the end of the day, it’s crazy that I’m even in the conversation of greatest of all-time athletes. I still think I’m just Simone Biles from Spring, Texas who loves to flip.”

It’s hard to argue with Biles’ status among the greatest athletes. With her eighth Olympic medal win earlier this week, she became the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history. This latest win surpasses the seven-medal tally achieved by American gymnast Shannon Miller during the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games.

This year’s Olympics represents a personal comeback for Biles. She famously withdrew from multiple events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to experiencing a mental block known as the “twisties.”

Last month, Biles discussed with Hoda Kotb on Today her decision to return to the Olympics after her challenging experience in Tokyo. Biles recounted how, for a while, watching others perform gymnastics was nerve-wracking, especially when they twisted. Then one day, she felt ready and decided to give it another shot.

Initially, her coaches and teammates hesitated, urging her to regain her skills and ensure a collective decision about her return.

Biles credits the last three years of therapy and reducing her social media usage for helping her enter these Games with a clearer mind. Now, she recognizes that she has nothing to prove to anyone but herself. “The only thing I have to prove is to myself,” she stated. “That I can get out there and do it again. I feel really confident we’re going to get the job done.”

Earlier this week, Biles, along with teammates Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera, clinched gold in the artistic gymnastics team finals. This marked their first medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Biles’ numerous achievements are undoubtedly supported by her family. Her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, and her parents, Nellie and Ronald Biles, were present at Bercy Arena to cheer her on.

On Friday, Owens took to Instagram to celebrate his wife’s historic wins, sharing a heartfelt post in which he marveled at her prowess. “Greatness 🐐 I love you so much baby ❤️🫶🏽💙,” Owens captioned the post. “You accomplish whatever you set your mind to and do it with so much grace. 9-time Olympic medalist and counting! So proud to be your husband 🤞🏽🥇”

Source: ET Online, BBC