Simone Biles named Sports Illustrated 2024 Sportsperson of the Year: “I'm always shocked winning any sort of award or being honoured”

SIMONE Biles has just added another prestigious title to her remarkable career, being named Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year.

The 11-time Olympic medalist earned this distinction after an awe-inspiring performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she secured four more medals—three golds and one silver—further cementing her place in gymnastics history.

In a statement to Good Morning America, Biles shared her excitement: "Honestly, it is such a huge honour. I know some of the greats that have won it in prior years, so to just keep gymnastics on the map is really exciting." Despite her immense achievements, Biles admitted, "I was still very shocked," reflecting on the honour. "I feel like I'm always shocked winning any sort of award or being honoured."

Biles’ performance in Paris not only propelled her to the forefront of gymnastics but also made history, tying her for the second-most decorated female gymnast in Olympic history and most decorated in U.S. history, according to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. 

Her stellar comeback from the mental health struggles that led her to withdraw from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics—when she faced the disorienting condition known as “the twisties”—underscores her resilience and determination.

Sports Illustrated lauded Biles for more than just her medal count. The magazine wrote: "Simone Biles is Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year because she won gold, and then another gold, and then another; because she changed the face of her sport and the conversations around athletes in general; because she continues to speak out about issues that matter to her."

Simone Biles will receive the 2024 Sportsperson of the Year award today (Jan 7), during the annual Sports Illustrated awards ceremony in Las Vegas—a moment sure to be another milestone in a career that continues to inspire the world.