As I sit at home watching America dominate the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, I also am reveling in Simone Biles and her outstanding contribution to #BlackGirlMagic. Here are five things to know about Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles.
1. She was Born in Columbus, Ohio.
Simone Arianne Biles was born on March 14, 1997 in Columbus, Ohio. She was adopted by her grandfather and his wife, Ronald and Nellie Biles, around the age of three. She has one sister and two brothers.
2. She began her gymnastics career in 2011.
Biles began her gymnastics career on July 1, 2011, at the American Classic in Houston, Texas, where she placed third all-around. From there she continued to participate in a variety of gymnastics competitions.
3. She’s the first African-American to be world all-around champion.
After breaking into gymnastics, Biles went on to compete in the Secret U.S. Classic in Chicago where she won the all-round by a wide margin in 2014. Also in 2014 she repeated as national all-around champion at the 2014 P&G Championships. On September 17, 2014, Biles was selected to compete at the 2014 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in China where she dominated the preliminary round and qualified in first place to the all-around vault, beam and floor finals in addition to helping the U.S. place into finals. Biles then led the U.S. to its second consecutive world team championship. She became the second American woman to repeat as world all-around and the first African-American to do so.
4. She was nominated for a 2016 ESPY.
Biles was nominated for a 2016 ESPY award for Best Female Athlete along with Elena Delle Donne, Katie Ledecky and Breanna Stewart.
5. She holds the record for most gold medals won by a female gymnast in the history of the World Championships.
Biles is the most decorated American female gymnast in the World Championship history with a total of 10 gold medals.





















