Late last month, gymnastics superstar Simone Biles posted a photo of herself on Instagram alongside her 11 Olympic medals, including the three gold and one silver she captured at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“6 year old me would be proud 🥹🤎🤞🏾,” read the caption.
This week, the seven-time Olympic gold medallist is in the opening leg of her 30-city arena tour, aptly named ‘Gold Over America Tour’ – spelling GOAT for Greatest of All Time.
Biles’ crisscross of the U.S. gives her the opportunity to share a message with any 6-year-olds in the audience with Olympic dreams as big as hers.
“To just have fun and do what you love and just have confidence,” Biles told Olympics.com Friday in an exclusive interview.
The two-hour spectacular combines gymnastics with dancing for what Biles has called a pop concert-like experience.
“This one has kind of kicked it up a notch,” said Biles.
The 2024 edition is the second run of the show, which first ran following the Tokyo Games in 2021. That show focused on the importance of prioritising one’s mental health after Biles made the daring decision to withdraw from several individual finals in Japan as she dealt with the ‘twisties.’
In the three years since, Biles has been open about her mental health, including speaking about therapy sessions she had before competing at her third Games. Her post-Paris arena show reflects that journey.
“Obviously, we wanted to share that story of ‘it’s okay to not be okay,'” explained Biles, “but this one is the outcome of putting in that work, taking care of yourself, and where it gets you.
“It’s just what happens after you take care of yourself and the success that brings,” she continued. “And so I think that’s the exciting part about the story and what the show brings.”
The tour runs through 3 November, when it takes its final bow in Detroit, Michigan.
