Simone Biles: What you need to know

By Callum Ng, CBC Sports

Simone Biles is a four-foot-eight gymnast you're about to know a lot about. 

The 19-year-old has won more world championship gold medals (10) than anyone in women's gymnastics history.

Famous moment

Looking at Biles' performances from 2014 and 2015 worlds is like comparing diamonds to one another, and searching for the flaws. 

The difference between the two championships comes down to one placing.

In both competitions she won the team, all-around, balance beam, and floor exercise events. 

But in 2014 she was the vault silver medallist, landing as the bronze medallist in 2015. Biles has 14 world medals.

She said it...

Biles was discovered early in her life at a gym in Houston.

• "I went to Bannon's [gym] on a day care field trip. While there I imitated the other gymnasts, and Coach Ronnie noticed. The gym sent home a letter requesting that I join tumbling or gymnastics." - Simone Biles to USA Gymnastics

• Rio 2016 Gymnastics schedule

What they're saying about her...

• "She's the best gymnast that's ever lived on the women's side for sure. She's the most talented gymnast I've ever seen in my life and obviously the Olympics will seal the deal. But even with 14 World Championship metals, she's the best!" - American Nastia Liukin, 2008 Olympic individual all-around champion

Strengths

Gymnasts have a short career span, usually one or two Olympic Games, and Biles already has a wealth of international experience heading into her first Games. She has performed impressively at three straight world championships, winning the all-around each time, including just about everything else. 

Weaknesses

It's about as difficult to find a weakness for Biles as it is for swimmer Katie Ledecky, who will also dominate at these Games.

But we can always wonder about how Olympic-size demands such as more media requests, the Athletes' Village, and other distractions will impact performance. For Biles and Ledecky both, it may not even matter.  

Fun fact

She has had the same coach, Aimee Boorman, her entire career.

Born

Columbus, Ohio

Hometown

Spring, Texas