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May Be the Most-Decorated U.S. Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles began dazzling the gymnastics world long before her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, where she was almost completely golden. Biles won four gold medals and a bronze in Rio. Biles’ five overall medals at one Olympics equaled an achievement accomplished by only three other American female gymnasts—Mary Lou Retton (1984), Shannon Miller (1992), and Nastia Liukin (2008). In 2016 she also became the only American gymnast other than Gabby Douglas in 2012 to win gold medals in both the individual all-around and the team competitions. At the conclusion of the Rio Games, she became the first American female gymnast to carry the flag during an Olympic closing ceremony.

The 4-foot 8-inch phenom from Houston has been more than just an Olympic standout. Biles won 14 gold, 3 silver,

and 3 bronze medals in World Championships from 2013 to 2018. That includes winning the all-around individual title and floor exercise four times each. After the Rio Games, Biles took the entire 2017 competition season off. She

staged a wildly successful comeback in 2018 when she won four gold medals

The Summer Olympics: Athletes to Watch

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