Simone Biles Admits to Nerves Returning to World Championships as a Spectator

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — The familiar arena, the swelling introductory music, the flutter of nerves: for Simone Biles, the atmosphere felt remarkably like old times.

The most decorated gymnast in history attended the opening day of event finals at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on Saturday.

“It actually makes me so nervous, especially with the build-up music,” Biles told the public address announcer in a pre-meet interview. “I felt like I was getting ready to compete. I was like, ‘Why am I so nervous right now?’ But it’s nice to be in the atmosphere again.”

Biles owns 11 Olympic medals — seven gold — and 30 World Championship medals, including 23 titles, records that stand across both men’s and women’s gymnastics. She remains undecided on a potential return for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, describing her current life as “a little bit of controlled chaos” filled with sponsor obligations, charitable work, and supporting her husband, Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens.

“I’m loving every single minute of it,” she said of her busy schedule.

Asked what she hoped to watch in Rotterdam, Biles replied simply, “Team USA.” When the announcer noted the U.S. women’s team silver, Biles quickly added, “And gold,” referencing Skye Blakely’s victory in the women’s all-around.

Blakely secured the 15th women’s all-around world title for the United States; Biles owns six of them, a mark she shares with Japan’s Kohei Uchimura for the most by any gymnast.

“She is incredible,” Biles said of Blakely. “Watching her come back and just go out and compete for gold is so inspiring to watch.”

Biles then took her seat just behind the floor exercise podium to take in the competition.

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