Career Timeline of Simone Biles: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Simone Biles made an impact.

Simone Biles is an American artistic gymnast recognized as the most decorated gymnast in history, holding 30 World Championship medals and 11 Olympic medals. She's widely considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time and one of the greatest female athletes. Her Olympic medal count ties her with Věra Čáslavská as the second-most decorated female Olympic gymnast, and she holds the record for the most Olympic medals earned by an American gymnast.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

2009: Nastia Liukin wins ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete

In 2009, Nastia Liukin won the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete. Simone Biles is the second gymnast to win this award after Nastia Liukin.

July 1, 2011: Elite Gymnastics Career Begins

On July 1, 2011, Simone Biles began her elite gymnastics career at age 14 at the 2011 American Classic in Houston. She placed third all-around, first on vault and balance beam, fourth on floor exercise, and eighth on uneven bars.

2012: American Classic Performance

In 2012, Simone Biles competed at the American Classic in Huntsville, Texas, where she placed first all-around and on vault, tied for second on floor exercise, placed third on balance beam, and fourth on uneven bars.

2012: 2012 USA Gymnastics National Championships

In 2012, Simone Biles secured a spot to compete at the USA Gymnastics National Championships, and also competed at the U.S. Classic in Chicago. In June, she made her second appearance at the U.S. National Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, finishing third all-around, first on vault, and sixth on uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. Biles was named to the U.S. Junior National Team.

2013: World Championships Achievements in 2013

In 2013, Simone Biles became the all-around champion, floor exercise champion and won a bronze medal on balance beam at the World Championships.

2013: City of Jesolo Trophy and Tri-Meet Success

In 2013, Simone Biles competed at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy, winning the all-around, vault, balance beam, and floor exercise titles. She also contributed to the U.S. team's gold medal. She also competed at an international tri-meet in Chemnitz, Germany, against teams from Germany and Romania, winning the vault, balance beam, and floor titles.

2013: National All-Around Championship in 2013

In 2013, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.

2013: U.S. National Gymnastics Championships Victory

In August 2013, Simone Biles competed at the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, where she was crowned the national all-around champion. She also won silver in all four individual events and was named to the Senior National Team.

2013: Senior International Debut at American Cup

In March 2013, Simone Biles made her senior international debut at the American Cup, a FIG World Cup event. She finished second behind her teammate, Katelyn Ohashi, after a fall off the beam.

2013: 2013 World Championships

In October 2013, Simone Biles competed at the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. She qualified for the all-around and all four event finals, and won the all-around competition. Biles later had surgery for bone spurs in her right tibia, sidelining her for three weeks.

2014: World Championships Achievements in 2014

In 2014, Simone Biles became the all-around champion, balance beam champion and was part of the gold medal winning United States team at the World Championships. She also won a silver medal on vault.

2014: 2014 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

In 2014, Simone Biles competed at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Nanning, China. She led the United States to its second consecutive world team championship, and won her second consecutive world all-around title. She won the gold in the balance beam final and the gold in the floor exercise final.

2014: Comeback After Injury and National Championships Win

In 2014, Simone Biles missed the start of the season due to injury, but debuted at the U.S. Classic in Chicago. At the 2014 USA Gymnastics National Championships, Biles repeated as national all-around champion.

2014: Individual Sportswoman of the Year

In 2014, Simone Biles was named individual Sportswoman of the Year by the Women's Sports Foundation, and after the world championships, she was named one of ESPNW's Impact 25.

July 2015: Signed with Octagon sports agency

In July 2015, Simone Biles signed with the Octagon sports agency, which also markets fellow American gymnast Aly Raisman and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps.

July 29, 2015: Turning Professional

On July 29, 2015, Simone Biles announced that she would turn professional and forfeit her NCAA eligibility to compete for UCLA.

November 2015: Sponsorship by Nike

In November 2015, Simone Biles announced her sponsorship by Nike.

November 23, 2015: Deal with GK Elite Sportswear

On November 23, 2015, Simone Biles signed a deal to allow GK Elite Sportswear to sell a line of leotards bearing her name.

December 2015: Team USA Female Olympic Athlete of the Year

In December 2015, Simone Biles was named Team USA Female Olympic Athlete of the Year, making her the fourth gymnast to win the honor.

2015: World Championships Achievements in 2015

In 2015, Simone Biles became the floor exercise champion and was part of the gold medal winning United States team at the World Championships. She also won a bronze medal on vault.

2015: 2015 AT&T American Cup and City of Jesolo Trophy

In 2015, Simone Biles placed first at the AT&T American Cup and won the all-around title at the City of Jesolo Trophy.

2015: 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

In 2015, Simone Biles was selected to represent the United States at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. She qualified in first place in the all-around, vault, beam, and floor finals. She helped the United States team win their third consecutive gold medal at a World Championships event and secured the all-around title, becoming the first woman to win three consecutive all-around titles in World Gymnastics Championships history. She also took bronze on vault and retained her world titles on balance beam and floor exercise, bringing her total World Championships medal count to 14 and gold medal count to 10.

2015: Third All-Around National Title

In 2015, Simone Biles won her third all-around national title at the U.S. National Championships, becoming only the second woman ever to achieve this feat, 23 years after Kim Zmeskal.

August 2016: Kellogg's Special Berries Gold Medal Edition

In August 2016, Kellogg's put the Final Five's picture on the Gold Medal Edition of Special berries; the back of the box showed Biles with one of her Rio gold medals.

September 2016: Spokesperson for Mattress Firm's program

In September 2016, Simone Biles became a spokesperson for Mattress Firm's program of supporting foster homes.

December 2016: Sponsorship of USS Enterprise

In December 2016, Simone Biles was chosen as one of the sponsors of the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, alongside Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Katie Ledecky. They are the first Olympians to be given this honor.

2016: 2016 U.S. National Championships

At the 2016 U.S. National Championships, Biles won the all-around title, gold medal on vault, floor exercise, and balance beam, and placed fourth on uneven bars.

2016: Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and Champion of Champions

In 2016, Simone Biles was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and international female Champion of Champions by L'Équipe.

2016: National All-Around Championship in 2016

In 2016, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.

2016: Olympic Games Success

In 2016, at the Olympic Games, Biles was a gold medalist in the individual all-around and on vault. She was also the champion on floor exercise and a bronze medalist on balance beam. Biles led the gold medal-winning United States team, dubbed the "Final Five."

2016: 2016 Summer Olympics Women's Qualification

On August 7, 2016, Simone Biles competed in the Women's Qualification at the Summer Olympics, helping the U.S. team qualify in first place. She also qualified as the top gymnast in the all-around, vault, balance beam, and floor exercise individual finals.

2016: Named to 2016 Rio Summer Olympics Team

On July 10, 2016, Simone Biles was officially named to the team representing the United States at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, marking a significant milestone in her career.

July 2017: ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete

In July 2017, Simone Biles won the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete. She is the second gymnast to win this award after Nastia Liukin won it in 2009.

2017: Named Elements introduced

During the 2017–2021 quad, Simone Biles introduced named elements on vault, balance beam, and floor exercise, which are the most difficult elements on each apparatus (the Biles on beam, Biles on vault, and Biles II on floor).

2018: World Championships Achievements in 2018

In 2018, Simone Biles became the all-around champion, floor exercise champion, and vault champion and was part of the gold medal winning United States team at the World Championships. She also won a silver medal on uneven bars and a bronze medal on balance beam.

2018: Champion of Champions

In 2018, Simone Biles was named international female Champion of Champions by L'Équipe.

2018: National All-Around Championship in 2018

In 2018, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship and won all five gold medals in a single championships.

2018: Collaboration with Caboodles

In 2018, Simone Biles worked with Caboodles to create and market products for women with active lifestyles.

2018: World Team Selection Camp

In October 2018, Biles participated in the World Team Selection Camp. She placed first in the all-around as well as first in vault and floor exercise. She debuted a new vault, and was named to the team to compete at the 2018 World Championships.

2018: 2018 World Championships

In late October 2018, at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Biles went to an emergency room with a kidney stone. She qualified to the all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise finals in first place, and to the uneven bars final in second place. Her new vault was named 'the Biles' and the US team won gold.

February 2019: Laureus World Sports Award

In February 2019, it was announced that Simone Biles was named Laureus World Sports Award in the category of Sportswoman of the Year for the second time.

November 2019: People's Choice Award

In November 2019, Simone Biles won the People's Choice Award for The Game Changer of 2019.

2019: World Championships Achievements in 2019

In 2019, Simone Biles became the all-around champion, floor exercise champion, vault champion, and balance beam champion and was part of the gold medal winning United States team at the World Championships.

2019: Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and Champion of Champions

In 2019, Simone Biles was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year and international female Champion of Champions by L'Équipe.

2019: National All-Around Championship in 2019

In 2019, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.

February 2020: Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year

In February 2020, Simone Biles was awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year for the second consecutive year and third time overall.

2020: 2020 Summer Olympics

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Biles withdrew from most of the competition after the qualification round due to "the twisties". She won a silver medal with the United States team nicknamed the "Fighting Four".

April 2021: Apparel sponsorship with Athleta

In April 2021, Simone Biles announced that she was leaving Nike for a new apparel sponsorship with the Gap's Athleta brand.

May 2021: First woman to complete a Yurchenko double piked on the vault

In May 2021, Simone Biles became the first woman to complete a Yurchenko double piked on the vault during competition.

July 28, 2021: Simone Biles withdraws from the individual all-around competition

On July 28, 2021, Simone Biles withdrew from the finals of the individual all-around competition at the Olympics, citing concerns about her mental health.

2021: National All-Around Championship in 2021

In 2021, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.

July 7, 2022: Presidential Medal of Freedom

On July 7, 2022, Simone Biles was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest honor given to civilians, by President Joe Biden in a ceremony at the White House. She was among a group of 17 honorees, which included Megan Rapinoe. She is the youngest person to receive this award.

2022: Gymnast to have competed four skills valued at H or higher

As of 2024, Simone Biles is the sole gymnast to have competed four skills valued at H or higher in the 2022–2024 Code of Points on floor exercise.

December 2023: Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year

In December 2023, Simone Biles was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the third time in her career (2016, 2019, 2023). She was also named international female Champion of Champions by L'Équipe for the fourth time in her career after previously winning the award in 2016, 2018, 2019.

2023: World Championships Achievements in 2023

In 2023, Simone Biles became the all-around champion, floor exercise champion, and balance beam champion and was part of the gold medal winning United States team at the World Championships. She also won a silver medal on vault.

2023: Eighth U.S. Gymnastics Title

In 2023, Simone Biles won her eighth U.S. Gymnastics title, breaking the 90-year-old U.S. Gymnastics title record previously held by Alfred Jochim.

2023: National All-Around Championship in 2023

In 2023, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.

2023: Difficult Routine on Vault

In 2023, Simone Biles's routine on vault was the most difficult ever performed in women's artistic gymnastics.

2023: Hillary Heron performs the Biles I on floor

Simone Biles was the sole gymnast to have performed any of these skills in an FIG international competition until Hillary Heron of Panama performed the Biles I on floor at the 2023 World Championships.

April 2024: Laureus World Sports Award

In April 2024, Simone Biles was awarded her fourth career Laureus World Sports Award in the category of Comeback of the Year.

July 2024: Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award

In July 2024, Simone Biles was awarded the Best Comeback Athlete ESPY Award.

2024: National All-Around Championship in 2024

In 2024, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship, making her the oldest female gymnast to ever win the title. She also won all five gold medals in a single championships.

2024: Difficult Routine on Floor Exercise

In 2024, Simone Biles's routine on floor exercise is the most difficult ever performed in women's artistic gymnastics. As of 2024, she is the sole gymnast to have competed four skills valued at H or higher in the 2022–2024 Code of Points on floor exercise.

2024: Continued Olympic Success

In 2024, at the Olympic Games, Biles won gold in the individual all-around and on vault. She was also the silver medalist on floor exercise, and led the gold medal-winning United States team, called the "Golden Girls". She also won Comeback of the Year.