During the Opening Ceremony for the Paris Olympics, Simone Biles’ mother, Nellie Biles, shared an amusing anecdote about an encounter with rapper Snoop Dogg in New York City.
Nellie Biles was being interviewed by The Today Show’s Hoda Kotb alongside the ‘Gin and Juice’ rapper during the broadcast of the ceremony.
Nellie recounted a memorable moment when she and Simone were left waiting by the hip-hop star. “I will never forget that we met you in Times Square, back in 2010. We asked for a picture, and you said, ‘Give me two minutes.’ One, two, and you were gone [laughs],” she joked. Snoop laughed at the recollection, and Kotb quickly moved on to the next topic.
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Simone Biles made her triumphant return to the Olympics three years after withdrawing from multiple finals at the Tokyo Games to prioritize her mental health.
This decision sparked an international conversation about the importance of mental health in sports. In Paris, Biles demonstrated remarkable resilience by pushing through discomfort in her calf to lead the U.S. women’s gymnastics team into the finals.
Biles, along with teammates Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles, dominated the all-around during early qualifying, finishing in the top three positions. However, due to rules limiting each country to two athletes per competition, Chiles will miss the all-around final.
There remains a possibility that Chiles could compete in the floor exercise final if she finishes in the top eight. Lee is a strong contender for the beam and bars finals, and 2020 floor exercise champion Jade Carey is well-positioned to join Biles in the vault final.
All eyes were on Biles, especially after she briefly alarmed the nation by leaving the floor exercise and receiving medical attention.
She had tweaked her calf during warm-ups, but U.S. coach Cecile Landi assured it was a minor injury. Biles performed admirably in front of a star-studded crowd, which included Tom Cruise, Jessica Chastain, Anna Wintour, and Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga expressed her admiration for Biles on social media, writing, “She nailed it, what an honor to be so close!”
The return of Biles to the Olympic stage was a testament to her determination and skill, inspiring both her teammates and fans around the world. Her story continues to be one of triumph over adversity, highlighting the strength and perseverance that define Olympic champions.
