Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history with 34 medals from world championships and Olympic Games, is the focus of a new Netflix docuseries, “Simone Biles Rising.” This four-part series offers an intimate and inspiring look into her life beyond the gym, before the inevitable scrutiny that comes with the Olympic Games.
The series opens with a touching scene between Simone and her mother, Nellie Biles. Nellie braids her daughter’s hair, a simple act that symbolizes their deep bond. “I could give it a try,” Nellie says, contemplating the best style for Simone’s upcoming competition. Simone, preparing for her first competition in two years—the 2023 World Championships of Artistic Gymnastics in Antwerp, Belgium—suggests a style. This quiet, everyday moment between mother and daughter sets the tone for the series, highlighting the personal aspects of Simone’s life often overshadowed by her public achievements.
Director Katie Walsh intentionally includes these small, relatable moments to humanize Simone. Scenes of hair braiding, backyard ping-pong, and breakfast with her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, paint a picture of Simone that contrasts sharply with her public persona as a world-class athlete. These moments help viewers see her as more than just a gymnast.
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The documentary serves as a platform for Simone to reclaim her narrative after a highly publicized mental health crisis during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. “I get to write my own ending,” Simone declares at the series’ start, signaling her determination to return to gymnastics and secure a spot on the US Olympic team for Paris 2024. The title “Simone Biles Rising” alludes to Maya Angelou’s powerful poem, “Still I Rise,” and the sentiment is echoed in Simone’s tattoo and often on her leotards.
The series presents Simone’s story as a triumphant comeback, but it also delves into the darker aspects of her journey. It addresses the “twisties,” a condition where gymnasts lose spatial awareness, and her struggles against the backdrop of abusive coaching practices, childhood trauma, sexual abuse by team doctor Larry Nassar, unrealistic beauty standards, and relentless media pressure.
While Simone’s bravery in addressing her mental health and her return to gymnastics is a central theme, “Simone Biles Rising” also critiques the broader culture of elite sports. It highlights the intense scrutiny athletes face from traditional and social media, questioning the human cost of such an ultra-competitive environment.
Simone’s narrative unfolds amidst constant commentary and public expectations. Despite her extraordinary abilities—such as executing the Yurchenko double pike vault, now named the Biles II—she remains a person with her own struggles and desires for normalcy. “People just, like, put you on these pedestals. You know, I’m just, like, begging to just be human,” she shares in the documentary.
“Simone Biles Rising” aims to do more than tell a comeback story. It seeks to remind viewers that athletes, despite their superhuman feats, are still human. As the world prepares for the Summer Olympics, this message is especially pertinent. The first two episodes are available on Netflix, with the final two set to air after the Paris Olympics.
By presenting Simone’s journey within this context, the docuseries hopes to offer a more nuanced narrative that goes beyond medals and accolades, emphasizing the humanity of athletes and the immense pressures they face.
