Gymnastic champion Simone Biles is to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Biles is among 17 people to receive the medal, including Diane Nash, a founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, actor Denzel Washington and late Arizona Republican John McCain.
“These 17 Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation — hard work, perseverance and faith,” a White House statement said. “They have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities — and across the world — while blazing trails for generations to come.”
Back in February, Biles told Net-A-Porter, that she was focused on self-care after her controversial withdrawal from the Olympics.
“I think a lot of good things came from taking a different route at the Olympics,” she told the outlet of her decision to withdraw. “I do believe everything happens for a reason. My self-care routine looks a little bit different than pulling out of the Olympics,” she says. Specifically, it involves “taking baths, going to the spa, having movie nights with my boyfriend and spending time at the pool with my dogs.”
The newly engaged athlete remained true to her word. While she continues to make headlines, it is mostly for her moves off the floor these days.
In May, Biles announced the news of her new reality television show, “Daring Simone Biles,” a 10-episode series on Snapchat.
The show centers on the 32 Olympic and World Championship award-winning athlete as she takes all-new risks trying things she’s never done, Variety reported.
She previously starred in the series “Simone vs Herself,” which followed her leading up to and through the Tokyo Olympics. Biles also served as executive producer for the 2018 Lifetime biopic “The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar.”
