Simone Biles had one helluva run and with one final medal under her belt she was able to release it all.
According to PEOPLE Simone earned a silver in floor — and then the magnitude of the moment truly washed over her.
While appearing on the Today show in Paris on Tuesday, Aug. 6, Biles told Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie that she got quite emotional after returning to the Olympic Village following the women’s individual floor routine final.
“Yesterday when we got back to the village, I looked at Jordan [Chiles] and I started balling my eyes out,” said Biles. “She was like, ‘I knew it was going to happen, I just didn’t know when.’ I was just so full of emotion and I finally released all of that.”
It wasn’t sad tears, though. “I was so proud, happy, and bittersweet that the journey is over,” said the 27-year-old. “It’s so crazy, it happened so quick. My third Olympics.”
Still, she noted that she doesn’t think the true, full picture of what she’s accomplished as the most-decorated female U.S. Olympic gymnast of all time will hit her “until one day I decide to retire.”
This morning, @Simone_Biles speaks to @hodakotb all about her four new medals at the Paris Olympics, giving Rebeca Andrade her flowers, why she wouldn’t be at the level she is today without her parents and adoption and more. ❤️ #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/13i46s1SPM
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 6, 2024
Biles has now won 11 Olympic medals, including the four she earned in Paris, a team gold, all-around gold, vault gold and floor silver.
The athlete hasn’t shut out the idea of competing in a fourth Games, and doubled down on that response during Today on Tuesday.
“You know, you never say never,” she told Guthrie and Kotb. “The next Olympics is on home turf [in Los Angeles] so you just never know.”
The gymnast continued, “I’m just going to relax and see where life takes me.”
Biles’ family is relaxing too with another Games under their belts.
As part of PEOPLE’s cover story this week, the athlete’s mom, Nellie Biles, detailed the family’s celebratory plans of taking a river cruise in Paris.
The proud mom highlights to PEOPLE how Biles’ challenging experience in Tokyo makes this moment all the more special, too:
“To work through that and be in this place where she enjoys doing what she wants … this is rewriting her story. It’s rewriting it on her terms because she is in this place that she really perhaps wished she would have been for years.”
Love seeing Simone Biles so peacefully happy. She takes care of herself and all those around her. Truly a fantastic leader & ambassador for gymnastics. Watching Simone cheer for & support Jordan & Rebeca made me cry. Love Hoda as the USA team mom!
— Lisa Taylor-Jones (@LTaylorJones) August 6, 2024
and
This is everything. pic.twitter.com/FrXz7wWtQg
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 5, 2024
and
From this angle you can see Jordan Chiles "plotting" the kneel with Simone Biles and Biles agreeing to it. What a moment. Three champions. https://t.co/86wpSF9LOU
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) August 5, 2024
and
I love my black job ???? https://t.co/c5wPc6xOY3
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) August 2, 2024
