Photo: Emilee Chinn/Getty
As the most decorated U.S. women’s gymnast in history, it’s safe to saySimone Bilesis the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) —and to make sure you don’t forget, the Olympian arrived at her first competition in over a year with a subtle reminder bedazzled on the back of her uniform.
Biles, 24, worea white GK Elite leotardthat featured mesh long sleeves, a pink and orange rhinestone design, and silver rhinestones in the shape of a goat head on her back during the U.S. Classic in Indianapolis on Saturday.
Biles was seenpracticing the moveduring a training session on Friday, and fans were eager to see if she would attempt it at the U.S. Classic.
“It was really nerve-wracking but I’m just happy to be back out here, competing on a competition floor in an arena with the girls especially after a long year and the time off we’ve had,” Biles told NBC Sports after the competition on Saturday.
Speaking about the historic vault, she said, “I was just thinking, ‘Do it like training. Don’t try to like overdo anything,’ because I have a tendency, as soon as I raise my hand, to overpower things … I did a little bit, but I was still on my feet. It’s a new vault and I’m proud of how today went.”
In 2019, the athletewore a similar leotardembellished with her last name and the outline of a goat head at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City.
“I don’t want to be cocky or anything,” she said at the time, when asked if she expected to get criticism for taking on that GOAT mantle. “My mom was really worried about the leo today. … I don’t think there will be anything bad except for some fans and some haters.”
Biles did, however, received backlash online for being the only gymnast on her team with her name on the back of her leotard. She later explained the circumstances (hers was made first, before realizing not all of the gymnasts' last names would fit on their leotards, but they decided to leave hers as-is).
Listen below toour daily podcast PEOPLE Every Dayfor more on Simone Biles.
source: people.com
