WASHINGTON — Simone Biles spends more of her life up in the air than most. That’s been true in more ways than one in the whirlwind that has become the 2016 Rio Games all-around gold medalist’s life since bursting into the national consciousness this summer in Brazil.
“I’ve only been home, like, a combined five total days since the Olympics, it’s been pretty crazy,” Biles told WTOP Sports Director George Wallace in an interview Wednesday. “But we’ve had so many cool opportunities, and we’ve had so much fun doing everything we’ve been doing.”
Along with the rest of the gold medal-winning women’s gymnastics team, Biles has been traveling the country since September on a 36-city barnstorming as part of the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions. The event itself features the “Final Five” and the men’s Olympic gymnastics team, as well as the rhythm gymnastics and trampoline teams.
It’s a celebration rather than a competition — no judges, no coaches — that hits Verizon Center Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
“The stressful part is over — that was the Olympics,” Biles said. “This is just kind of like the victory lap, the fun part.”
Biles has done countless media appearances, including everything from performing on the show Lip Sync Battle opposite Michael Phelps to announcing awards at both MTV’s Video Music Awards and CMT’s Country Music Awards.
“It was very different from the VMAs,” she said of the recent experience. “We were all so nervous, like more nervous than at the Olympics.”
Amid the chaos, though, Biles has found the most enjoyment out of seeing the effect her accomplishments this summer have had on the next generation of gymnasts back at home.
“I would just say all the kids’ reactions to seeing us, whenever we come into the same room as them, they can’t even believe it,” Biles said.
“At one point I remember being one of those little kids,” she said. “You have to start somewhere.”
