After dominating at the U.S. Gymnastics Trials, Simone Biles is preparing to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic with her teammates, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and newcomer Hezly Rivera.
Biles shared a of photo of the U.S. national women's gymnastics team on Instagram after they arrived in Paris. The post racked up over 600,000 likes, and garnered a comment from former Olympic gymnast, McKayla Maroney.
Maroney, 28, won the team gold alongside Kyla Ross, Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and Jordyn Wieber at the 2012 Paris Olympics, and went viral for her "unimpressed" look after earning silver in the individual vault competition. However, she's very impressed with the 2024 women's national team.
"omg LOVE," she wrote on Biles post.
Maroney initially planned to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics alongside Biles, but following a series of devastating injuries and surgeries, while also struggling with burnout and depression, she announced her retirement from competition in February 2016.
However, the 28-year-old shares an unbreakable bond with Biles. Along with Biles, 27, and Raisman, 30, Maroney helped hold the FBI accountable for failing to adequately investigate disgraced Team USA doctor Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison after over 150 women accused him of sexual abuse.
Maroney also recently sent a strong message of support to Raisman, who opened about the debilitating strokes she's suffered over the past four years.
“I was, like, still really struggling a lot with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)," Raisman said of not being able to trust doctors during an appearance on " Call Her Daddy ." People don’t realize how much it still lives with you when you’ve been through something traumatic.”
Maroney, who detailed the harrowing experience of Nassar's abuse in an interview with Elle in April, is one of the few people who intimately understands Raisman's plight.
Maroney wrote in part, "Just really proud of you and your vulnerability on the call her daddy podcast. It can be scary to be real, when we were trained to show up 'perfect' … down to the littlest details...
"Those things made us really tough athletes, which I’m thankful for… but long term it doesn’t build the healthiest foundation for a person. With that being said, I’ve watched you work incredibly hard on yourself to grow into someone who can speak out and make a difference for girls like us. You inspire me @alyraisman. ❤️
Related: Simone Biles Sends Strong Message After MyKayla Skinner Slams Olympic Team
Related: Taylor Swift Reacts to Simone Biles' Incredible Floor Routine at U.S. Trials
Related: Gymnast Gabby Douglas Makes Huge Announcement After Missing 2024 Paris Olympics
Most Popular
Comments / 0