Simone Biles is opening up about how the ‘haters’ have inspired her to embrace her status as the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T).
In an interview aired on the BBC on Thursday, August 1, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the 27-year-old Olympic gymnast revealed that the criticism she received for being labeled as the G.O.A.T. motivated her to get a necklace with a goat pendant.
“It’s a little ode,” Biles explained. “A lot of people love it; they always call me the G.O.A.T. So, I thought it would be really special if I got one made. And the haters hate it, so I love that even more. It’s just a special part of me that I have here. In the village, I have a stuffed goat, just to remind myself: ‘You can go out there, you can do it, you’ve done it before, so let’s go.'”
On Thursday, Biles secured gold in the all-around final, marking her second gold medal of the 2024 Games and her sixth Olympic gold overall. After her victory, teammate Jordan Chiles presented her with a silver chain adorned with a sparkly goat pendant, which Biles proudly wore.
“My goat necklace is just kind of an ode,” Biles told reporters, including PEOPLE, at a post-event press conference. “The people love it, and some people hate it, so it’s like the best of both worlds. I thought, okay, if it goes well, I’ll wear the goat necklace. I know people will go crazy over it.”
Reflecting on her journey, Biles added, “At the end of the day, it is crazy that I’m in the conversation of greatest of all time athletes because I still think I’m Simone Biles from Spring, Texas, who loves to flip.”
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Biles’ latest triumph follows her historic achievement earlier in the week when she became the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history by winning her eighth Olympic medal.
Alongside her Team USA teammates—Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera—Biles won gold in the women’s gymnastics team final on Tuesday, July 30. Her gold medal in the all-around competition on Thursday brings her total Olympic medal count to nine.
Biles had previously won gold in the all-around competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her continued success and resilience in the face of criticism underscore her status as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
