Beyoncé celebrates gymnast Simone Biles’ historic Olympic win: “Brilliance – it doesn’t come easy” 

2 August, 2024

Gold medalist Simone Biles of Team United States poses with her medal and Beyoncé on stage

As the 2024 Paris Olympics is well underway, Beyoncé has shown her support for superstar gymnast Simone Biles.

The US has been performing incredibly well at the latest instalment of the Olympic Games since it kicked off last Friday (July 26) – currently leading in overall medals and is behind only China when it comes to Gold medals.

Now, pop legend Beyoncé has shown her support for the US gymnast Simone Biles in a new video for NBC Sports, and hailed the athlete as both “inspiring” and “brilliant”.

The clip offers an overview of the journey Biles has taken to get to the 2024 Olympics, and comprises several clips of her performances over the years. It also comes with narration from Bey, who expresses how seeing the progress made by Biles has inspired her.

“Let’s talk about power. Because, really, that’s what this story’s about: Physical power. Its beauty, its wonder. The way it never stops amazing you,” the singer says in the voiceover. “Then there’s spiritual power, the kind that really matters. The power you can’t see, only sense. The power you need in those moments when life goes a little sideways on you.

“And, of course, lasting power. Only a select few know what it feels like to get to the top and stay there. And, somehow, keep getting better.”

She continues: “Simone Biles inspires me, and I’m pretty sure she inspires you too. Such confidence in her strength, such beauty in her power, such a great lesson in her story.

“Brilliance – it doesn’t come easy. Gold can be a hell of a journey, and the greatest of all time is willing to put that title on the line every time she walks out there. Take your best shot, world. She’s ready for you.”

The reference to life going “a little sideways” seems to be a nod to the circumstances that forced Simone Biles to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics. Ahead of the 2021 games, the athlete reported experiencing ‘Twisties’ – a condition which causes the gymnast to feel a sudden disorientation and leaves them unable to perform the spins in their routine.

Yesterday (August 1) Biles went on to win the women’s all-around individual gymnastics final. It marked her second gold medal in this year’s Olympics and officially made her the most decorated US gymnast in Olympic history.

Just days earlier, Beyoncé also got involved in the 2024 games by appearing in a promotional video, introducing some of the athletes competing for the USA.

Dressed in a USA-branded white bodysuit, blue cowboy hat and white cowboy boots – in reference to her current country era and new album ‘Cowboy Carter’ – Bey hyped up several other high-profile members of the USA’s Olympic team. These included sprinters Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, and swimmers Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky. The video was soundtracked by her recent single ‘YA YA’.

The 2024 Olympics kicked off last week (July 26) with an opening ceremony featuring Lady Gaga performing French cabaret song ‘Mon truc en plumes’ and Gojira performing French Revolution song ‘Ah Ça Ira!’ with opera singer Marina Viotti.

Celine Dion also performed for the first time in four years, taking on Edith Piaf’s ‘L’Hymne A L’Amour’ in her first show since she revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome (SPS).

It was widely speculated by the French media that Dion and Lady Gaga would perform a duet of ‘La Vie En Rose’.

The competitive events are set to continue until August 11.

As for other Beyoncé news, her song ‘Freedom’ was recently used in Kamala Harris’s first presidential election video. While appearing at her first campaign staff meeting in Wilmington, Delaware, Harris walked out to ‘Freedom’ as well.

While Beyoncé has yet to publicly comment on Harris running for President, her mother Tina Knowles has voiced her support for the current Vice President on social media: “New, youthful, sharp energy…Go Vice President Kamala Harris for President. Let’s Go #kamala2024.”

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