Simone Biles wins ESPY Award and given inspiring send-off to Paris Olympics

At the ESPY Awards, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was honored with the Best Comeback Athlete award, and actor Brian Tyree Henry was there to sing her praises.

Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett stepped up to accept the accolade on behalf of Biles, who was absent due to intense training for the Paris Olympics with Team USA. Despite not gracing the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Biles' presence was felt strongly as she was recognized for her triumphant return to top-tier gymnastics after a break and overcoming mental health challenges.

Henry took to the stage with an uplifting tribute to the gymnastics superstar, acknowledging her as an inspiration and a true champion. With 29 gold medals under her belt, Biles is now setting her sights on France, aiming to add more gold to her collection and cap off her remarkable comeback with her now getting an inspiring send-off before heading to Europe.

"Simone, you are an inspiration," proclaimed Henry at the ceremony. "Simone, you are a champion and the only person you have anything to prove to is Simone."

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Before presenting the award, Henry also expressed his admiration for Biles, noting her absence was due to her commitment to dominating the upcoming Olympics. "She's busy obviously, getting ready to bring all those gold medals home," he commented.

Biles, considered one of the greatest gymnasts ever, clinched her first two gold medals at just 16. She added four more to her tally after a clean sweep at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, but soon found herself grappling with the pressure.

Following an impeccable performance at the 2016 Games, Biles took a brief break from competition and co-authored an autobiography before making her way back to the gym. Upon her return in 2017, she continued to shine and was chosen for the subsequent Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The 2020 Games were postponed due to the global pandemic, and when they finally kicked off in 2021, the expectations on Biles became unbearable. After the qualifying rounds, Biles shared on Instagram that she was "[feeling] the weight of the world on [her] shoulders", underlining the immense pressure she was under.

Biles began pulling out of several events, citing mental health issues as the cause for her current state of mind. It was later disclosed that her aunt had passed away unexpectedly during the Olympic Games and she was suffering from the 'twisties' - a term used to describe a loss of spatial awareness while executing aerial maneuvers.

After taking some time off, Biles has made a remarkable comeback. She's back to her top form and has been selected for Team USA for the 2024 Olympic Games.