Watching Simone Biles’ Netflix Documentary Made Her Gold Medal Wins At The Paris Olympics Even Better For 3 Reasons

Watching Simone Biles' Netflix Documentary Made Her Gold Medal Wins At The Paris Olympics Even Better For 3 Reasons

As someone who has grown up admiring Simone Biles from the sidelines, watching her journey unfold in her Netflix documentary “Simone Biles: Rising” has been nothing short of inspiring. The docuseries provides a raw and intimate look into the challenges she faced during the Tokyo Olympics and the hard work she put in to make her triumphant comeback at the Paris Games.


I’ve spent my childhood, high school years, and graduate studies admiring Simone Biles at the Olympics. She ruled the Rio Games while I was in high school, faced the twisties during Tokyo when I was in grad school, and I’ve been eagerly waiting for her triumphant return to the Paris Olympics. Throughout this journey, she has served as a powerful role model for me and countless others. Witnessing her comeback on the grand stage at this year’s games and winning historic gold medals has been inspiring. What makes these victories all the more gratifying is knowing how much effort she put into achieving them, a testament to her dedication that shines brightly in her Netflix documentary titled “Simone Biles: Rising.”

Before the Paris Olympics kicked off in 2024, Simone Biles shared the first two episodes of her Netflix docuseries. This series took us behind the scenes of Tokyo, detailing her journey to regain peak health and compete in this year’s Olympics. Watching it before her triumphant wins – taking home team, all-around, and vault gold medals at the games – made those victories even sweeter for me, here’s why:

Watching Simone Biles' Netflix Documentary Made Her Gold Medal Wins At The Paris Olympics Even Better For 3 Reasons

You’re Taken Back To Tokyo As Simone Biles Explains Why She Couldn’t Compete

The film starts by providing a comprehensive analysis of the Tokyo Olympics. During the women’s gymnastics team final, Biles experienced something unprecedented, commonly known as “twisties.” At that time, I was unfamiliar with the term, but soon understood it referred to her feeling of losing control and becoming disoriented while in mid-air. In the documentary, Biles shares her thoughts as she acknowledged this predicament, expressing: “I felt like I was losing my bearings and getting confused during my routines.”

From that instant, I sensed it was more than a one-time occurrence, as there seemed to be a palpable continuity in my mind.

The production of this project incorporated footage captured during the Tokyo Olympics, and it features Simone Biles tearfully discussing her withdrawal from the team competition and openly addressing the perilous nature of the “twisties” she encountered.

In the documentary, it’s mentioned that due to COVID-19 restrictions, Simone’s family couldn’t attend the games, making them unusual. Notably, her mother stated that she had missed all of Simone’s previous competitions, except for those in Tokyo. Her mother expressed that this year was exceptional in a way that they could not control, and it became clear how tense the situation was for everyone, underscoring the high pressure leading up to Paris.

Watching Simone Biles' Netflix Documentary Made Her Gold Medal Wins At The Paris Olympics Even Better For 3 Reasons

Simone Biles Explains Just How Hard And Scary Her Vault Is

When you observe Biles on the vault, it’s clear she’s performing at an extraordinary level, even beyond what’s typically expected. The Yurchenko double pike, a move so challenging that it bears her name and is considered the most difficult in women’s competition (as NBC Chicago puts it), is a feat no other female athlete has managed to execute. It’s risky and intimidating, as the gold medalist herself acknowledged.

Each time I tackle it, fear grips me anew. Every attempt is accompanied by a deep sigh, as if to say, ‘Here we go again.’

It’s entirely plausible that she realized the risk of being watched, given the caution they expressed about the move’s potential danger. Therefore, she went on to confirm this by stating:

Most the time, I’m just trying not to die.

Observing Biles perform in the individual all-around event in Paris increased my excitement, causing me to almost hold my breath while watching.

It’s clear she pulled off that move, and it’s her own talent on display. Yet, there’s no ignoring the fact that it looked pretty scary, and if you watch the video above, you can tell she was incredibly relieved when she nailed the landing.

Feeling the butterflies in my chest before pulling off that trick really added to the thrill of nailing it. It’s a testament to her incredible strength – not just her physical prowess, but her mental fortitude as well.

Watching Simone Biles' Netflix Documentary Made Her Gold Medal Wins At The Paris Olympics Even Better For 3 Reasons

Simone Biles Walks You Through Her Mental Health Journey And How It Led To Now

In simpler terms, Biles often emphasizes the importance of her mental wellbeing and therapy’s role in her athletic achievements. Instead of celebrating her victory in Paris on social media, she shared a photo of herself calmly meditating during the competition, with the caption expressing this moment of relaxation.

mental health matters

The essence of this documentary lies in the focus on her mental fortitude. While her physical abilities and power play significant roles in her achievements, they appear overshadowed by her mental health and resilience when it comes to her comeback, making her a formidable figure as an athlete.

Simone Biles openly discusses the rigorous training she undertook to regain her physical prowess and the psychological barriers she encountered during this process. She candidly shares her emotional state following the Tokyo Olympics, and emphasizes that her mental wellbeing significantly contributes to her current achievements.

In the documentary, the gymnast candidly discussed the discrimination she’s faced during her professional journey as well as her strategies for dealing with it.

Instead of climbing back up to the top, she focused on her mental health and made it a priority. This included spending time with her husband and family, attending therapy, and regularly working out at the gym to improve her skills.

As a gamer, I admire the grit and resilience of athletes like Simone Biles who excel in intense sports such as gymnastics. It’s inspiring to see someone so influential openly discussing the challenges they face, both physically and mentally. Her journey through adversity is truly remarkable, and it’s awe-inspiring to watch her thrive while shattering stereotypes about mental health.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to say that “Rising” is an immersive exploration into Simone Biles’ triumphant comeback and a glimpse into the relentless journey required to wear the crown of Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.). It’s fascinating stuff, and knowing she sealed her G.O.A.T. status at the Paris games only adds to the sweetness of this tale. You can savor even more of it when Part 2 of this captivating docuseries premieres on Netflix later this year.

As someone who has always been fascinated by the human spirit and its incredible ability to rise above adversity, I highly recommend tuning into the Olympics and watching the first two episodes of Rising. The Olympics showcase athletes from all over the world pushing their limits in pursuit of greatness, while Rising delves deep into the inspiring stories of individuals who have overcome immense challenges to achieve remarkable feats. With a Peacock subscription for the Olympics and a Netflix subscription for Rising, you’ll be able to witness the power of determination, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit in action. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to be moved, inspired, and entertained by these extraordinary stories that will surely enrich your life.

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2024-08-07 12:07