After another dominant Olympics in Paris, Simone Biles fears her days on the world stage are behind her and she won’t get the chance to compete when the show comes to Los Angeles in 2028.
It’s been nearly a month since Biles last competed in Paris, and she’s still enjoying her time away from gymnastics before making a big decision about competing at the Olympics again.
Biles would be 31 if she competed at the 2028 Olympics, an exceptionally advanced age for a world-class gymnast.
The 27-year-old was already the oldest member of the U.S. team in Paris by a few years, the fifth-oldest in American history.
If Biles qualifies for the Los Angeles Games, she would be the second-oldest person to wear a red, white and blue leotard behind Marie Margaret Hoesly, who was 35 when she competed at the 1952 Olympics.
Simone Biles, 27, won four medals at the Paris Olympics, including three golds.
Biles has not yet decided whether she will compete at the Los Angeles Olympics.
“Everyone wants to know this question!” Biles said on the Tonight Show. “I’m like, ‘Can I not live?'”
“First of all, I’m getting older. 27 is a little old for a gymnast,” Biles continued. “In gymnastics, I’m aging like fine wine. For a gymnast, I’m old. Outside the gym, I’m young — tequila, no hangover!”
Biles added that she would be more interested if she was offered a teammate for the events.
Biles won four medals at the Paris Olympics, including three golds. She is the most decorated American gymnast of all time.
The youngest member of the U.S. team this year was Hezly Rivera, who is 16 years old.
If Biles competes in Los Angeles, it’s possible another member of Team USA could be half her age.
Biles is one of the greatest female athletes of all time, as evidenced by the silver GOAT necklace she wore on The Tonight Show.
It could be that the only person stopping Biles from competing in Los Angeles is Biles.