Simone Biles was featured in a USOC media teleconference in advance of the one-year out mark to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Biles is excited about the opportunity to make an Olympic team in 2016, and despite all the hype about her going pro, she is absolutely laser-focused on what she needs to do in the gym every day to prepare for P&Gs and beyond. “I know that my parents and my agent are doing stuff behind the scenes but they told me they are keeping me out of it for right now just so I can focus on Indiana.”

 

Biles' hard-work came to fruition pretty quickly once she came onto the scene. She said 2013 was a fun year for her because she wasn’t at all expecting the huge level of success that she achieved. “I was pretty much at the bottom, but Martha decided to put me out on an international stage.” She thought she might make the World’s team as a vault specialist, but ended up cleaning up her routines and not only competing all-around, but becoming the World Champion. “I kind of just thought it was a fluke for me…and then the second year it started to hit me.” Just two years later and now Biles is a professional athlete who hasn’t lost an all-around meet since 2013 P&G Championships.

Biles is very excited about this year, especially for her new floor routine and a vault upgrade (Cheng) that she hopes to compete at P&G Championships. This upgrade will add an extra full twist to her current second vault of a Yurchenko half on front layout half twist off (Lopez).

 

While she feels the added pressure of being at the top as the two-time reigning World Champion, Biles isn’t phased. Before her newfound fame, “there was nothing to worry about because my name wasn’t anything big, but now every time I go into a meet there is always expectations that I have set for myself and that Martha and my coaches set for me.” She admits it is a little more stressful now, but she can handle it. “Sometimes think I do better under pressure.”

 

Biles has her eyes set on Rio and looks to contribute whatever the team needs from her, including “good spirits and fun.” She said if she is named to the team, “I just hope to bring whatever I have to the team and I hope to help them in any way I can.”

 

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Simone Biles Turns Pro