Teasing Retirement, Simone Biles Gives Hints at Life After Gymnastics: “Saying Goodbye”

Is Simone Biles defying age norms, or is it time for her to retire gracefully?

Is Simone Biles really “old for a gymnast”? Not quite! At just 27, she’s challenging the notion that athletes should retire at this age. After all, this is Simone Biles—the woman who has continually pushed the boundaries of her sport. Have you seen her tattoo that reads, “And Still I Rise”? It really captures her journey and how she keeps rising to the occasion. For the past eight years since making the Olympics debut, she hasn’t just been in the gymnastics world; she’s been the one to beat, earning the title of the world’s most decorated gymnast. She holds 23 World Championship medals that stand as an achievement for anyone.

The closest competitors in history—Svetlana Khorkina, Gina Gogean, and Larisa Latynina—have nine golds. Besides, Biles has seven Olympic medals, and if she maintains this performance, she might be able to beat Larisa Latynina and take nine or more Olympic golds in the following Olympics in 2028. So, the big question is: can she pull it off? Or is retirement around the corner? Well, in the Netflix documentary Simone Biles hinted about retirement since she has other plans to do in her life besides gymnastics,

Last August, Simone Biles said, “The next Olympics is on home turf. So you just never know. I’m just going to relax and see where life takes me.” But the Netflix documentary “Simone Biles Rising” gives us a different angle. In Episode 4, she opens up about what she’ll miss most about gymnastics: “What I miss most about gymnastics is the freedom with my body. The ability that I have in the gym is not normal.” With a career that kicked off at age six and five moves named after her, it’s clear she has an extraordinary talent. Plus, she trained an impressive 35 hours a week, as revealed by NBC in January, making it hard to imagine her simply walking away.

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Now, at 27, Biles is also married to Jonathan Owens, which adds new responsibilities to her life. The thought of starting a family might be on her mind, too, making her schedule even busier. In the documentary, she reflects on this emotional transition, saying, “We’re saying goodbye to something we love. Mentally rewiring your brain is so hard.” It really shows just how tough it can be for someone who has devoted so much of their life to a sport.

Yet, Biles also recognizes that this journey has shaped her: “I’ve had to work in other areas of my life, and that’s taught me lessons that brought me to who I am today.” While it’s definitely difficult to say goodbye to gymnastics, Biles is looking ahead to her future beyond the sport.

Simone Biles also gives fans a sneak peek into her new office, signaling an exciting new chapter in her life. “So here is my office,” she says, contemplating the possibilities ahead. “Who knows what I’ll be doing in here? I just know there will be a desk and a computer.” This space represents a shift from her gymnastics career to new ventures. That office is in her new home.

Is Simone Biles defying age norms, or is it time for her to retire gracefully?

Biles also gave a home tour, and her husband, Jonathan Owens, FaceTimed her and called the setup “dope” when she showed her the bathtub. As Biles walks through the unfinished space, she notes how surreal it is to see it transform from “just bones and a structure” to something uniquely hers. This exciting new chapter is a reality for her after retirement, but there’s still a bit of uncertainty about her future. She’s hinted at possibly stepping back but hasn’t fully committed to retiring just yet.

Simone Biles knows all too well the challenges that come with her age. In her docuseries, she jokes about feeling “old for a gymnast” and like “a ticking time bomb” for injuries. But let’s be real—this is Simone Biles, the athlete who has continually shattered the limits of her sport. With eleven Olympic medals, seven of them gold, two silver, and two bronze, it is something that is the dream of every other gymnast.

And guess what? Simone isn’t throwing in the towel just yet. She’s taking a balanced approach to her future in gymnastics: “Never say never.” With the next Olympics set to take place on home turf, she’s keeping her options wide open. However, she’s a bit annoyed with the constant chatter about retirement. She put it bluntly on X, saying, “You guys really gotta stop asking athletes what’s next after they win a medal at the Olympics. Let us soak up the moment we’ve worked our whole lives for.”

Maybe still an active gymnast but choosing to skip a particularly strong routine, which is the Yurchenko Double Pike, Simone Biles had her reasons. This is one of the most complicated gymnastics and was very crucial for her when she secured the gold during the Olympics in Paris in 2024. Whether she decides to compete again or embark on a new adventure, one thing’s for sure: If there is one thing that we have come to realize, it is that in every situation, Simone Biles will always be a powerhouse, be it on or off of the mats.

Maleehah Shakeel is an Olympic Sports writer at EssentiallySports who covers equestrian sports, rodeo, bull riding, and Gymnastics. Maleehah’s stories revolve around various brand endorsement deals of athletes like Jessica Springsteen, Jennifer Gates, and Olivia Dunne. She has written in depth about the brand collaboration between Jessica Springsteen and Tommy Hilfiger.