What can’t Simone Biles do? She’s a proud daughter, a supportive wife, a fierce mental health advocate, a loyal friend, a walking inspiration, and—let’s not forget—a gymnastics legend with more flips than most of us have socks. Seriously, if being unstoppable were a sport, she’d already have the gold. And yeah, she’s finally getting the flowers she deserves. Time Magazine just dropped its 100 Most Influential People of 2025 list, and guess who’s front and center? Simone freaking Biles. And she’s not alone—four American women athletes made the cut. Let that sink in. Four women. One list. And Biles is leading the charge.
Let’s talk numbers. Biles has 11 Olympic medals—seven of them gold—from Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. She’s arguably the greatest gymnast of all time, and it’s not even close. But her legacy goes way beyond podiums and perfect landings. In Tokyo, she made headlines by pulling out of the team and individual all-around competitions to prioritize her mental health. That move? It flipped the conversation worldwide. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about winning—it was about well-being. And that’s the kind of power that earns you a spot on a list like this.
"She [Simone] is both deeply human and undeniably superhuman—a combination that makes her impact profound." – @Aly_Raisman
Congratulations to @Simone_Biles on being named one of @TIME's Most Influential People of 2025!
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https://t.co/xloU3PYcI0 pic.twitter.com/c534SvtEBP
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) April 16, 2025
And guess who wrote her tribute? None other than Aly Raisman—her former teammate and the “grandma” of their 2016 Rio squad. These two were part of the legendary “Final Five” that won team gold, and their bond has stood the test of time. Aly didn’t hold backafter seeing her on the list: “She [Simone] is both deeply human and undeniably superhuman—a combination that makes her impact profound,” she wrote in her tribute, which was shared by Gymnastics Now on X. “Through it all, she has embraced her vulnerability, while refusing to let it define or limit her.” That’s coming from someone who’s been there. Simone may have started as a teammate, but now? She’s a movement.
This is the developing story…
The post Simone Biles Named Among Time’s Most Influential People of 2025 As Former Teammate Pays Classy Tribute appeared first on EssentiallySports.
