Simone Biles reacted to Serena Williams' return to tennis, saying she's excited to see the 23-time Grand Slam champion compete again. On June 30, Biles shared her thoughts in a video posted by Laureus Sport.
What inspired Simone Biles?
Biles was inspired by Williams' influence beyond tennis, calling her an incredible human on and off the court. She praised Williams for being a woman who truly does it all and gives others the power to believe in themselves.
Williams' last match before her comeback was on September 2, 2022, when she lost to Ajla Tomljanović in the third round of the US Open. Biles was not in attendance but paid tribute to Williams after she announced she was stepping away from tennis.
Could Simone Biles follow Serena Williams' path?
Biles has not returned to the gym since winning 3 gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and has hardly watched any gymnastics events. However, she has not retired, leaving the door open for another Olympic comeback.
Biles recalled struggling to walk back to the Paris Olympic Village and even needing to use an elevator because climbing stairs had become a challenge. This reality has left her LA 2028 plans uncertain, as she will be 31 years old during the Games.
What's next for Simone Biles?
Biles acknowledged that she remains undecided about pursuing another Olympic cycle. She feels that she's still at a 50-50 point, and it's unclear what the future holds for her.
And Biles is rooting for Williams, saying she has nothing to lose and everything to gain at this point. Williams' comeback is an inspiration to Biles, who may one day consider a similar path.
The admiration between the two legends is mutual, with Williams having written a tribute to Biles for the TIME 100 list. Williams said she wishes she had Biles to look up to when she was younger and trying to realize her dreams.
So Biles is looking forward to seeing Williams compete at Wimbledon, and who knows, maybe one day she'll follow in her footsteps and make a comeback of her own. For now, Biles is focused on supporting Williams and enjoying her return to tennis.
On June 30, Biles shared her reaction to Williams' return, saying it's everyone's dream come true to see her compete again. Biles hopes to see Williams in person, as she's competing again, and is excited to witness her talent firsthand.
The American gymnast praised Williams for being a powerful influence on and off the court. Biles called Williams an incredible human who gives others the power to believe in themselves, even when they think they're done.
Williams is set to compete at Wimbledon after accepting a wildcard, and Biles is eager to see her in action. The two legends have a deep admiration for each other, and their mutual respect is clear.
Biles is 29 years old now, but she's still undecided about her future in gymnastics. She's taking things one step at a time and focusing on supporting Williams as she makes her comeback.
The future is uncertain for Biles, but one thing is clear: she's a huge fan of Williams and is excited to see her compete again. And who knows, maybe one day Biles will make a comeback of her own and inspire a new generation of athletes.