When I was younger, I thought every kid was adopted because that's all I've known. I have everything I need, so I never felt the need to have answers for what happened.
— Simone Biles
We all have skills, I guess.
Father served in the Air Force for 22 years.
One of my proudest moments was probably 2013 Worlds because I proved to myself that I could do things that I didn't think I could.
I think we have other things to worry about than some Zika virus.
I never felt I had questions or needed answers or had a part of me that was missing.
You can't get too caught up in yourself.
I think for me, the most fun competition that I've had was my first Worlds.
I was missing out on public school and going to the football games, prom or homecomings. But I've been to three World Championships... so I think it's like a win-win.
The reaction of the public plays a very important role. It gives us an adrenaline boost, especially when people start to shout and clap their hands in time with the music. That really helps us to go on.
Mentally, I have to get my body and mind in the right place before I start the routine, but once into the zone, it's like I turn on a switch. I envision myself doing the same thing for the Olympic Games.
When we had free time in the Olympic Village, we got massages and rested while watching Netflix.
Everything I do is in the gym, so I'm always in gym clothes. I'm excited to explore lifestyle clothes for a little bit.
I tune it all out because if I let other people's stress get to me, then I stress myself out more than I need to.
If I thought of gymnastics as a job, it would put too much stress on me.
I didn't get the high school opportunity, but it always worked out.
It hurts my head, but it's fine because it's something I do every day. You can't avoid the gymnastics questions.
If anybody has a bad day, they'll just come to my room because they know I'll bring out the positive in everything, or I'll make them laugh, or I'll be just crazy.
I'm very fortunate to have a coach that I got to stay with all this time. Every year the bond gets stronger and better, and we understand each other more. And it's like she can tell if I walk into the gym what kind of mood I'm in, what she has to fix for the practice I need, or how I'm feeling.
It was a very long and hard decision. My dad kept telling me, 'You can always go to college, but you can't always go pro.' That made sense to me.
I have everything I need, so there are no blanks left unfilled.
I've never been to the Olympics, so I don't know what to expect. It's better for me, just like my first Worlds... My third Worlds, I knew what it was like, so I was like, 'Oh my goodness. But this is my first Olympics, and not knowing what to expect is good for me.
Most people would focus on concentrating more, and I can't do that. It almost makes me overthink a lot of my things. I have to focus on not thinking.
I started gymnastics when I was six years old. I was at day care, and they took us on a field trip to a gym club, Bannon's Gymnastix in Houston, and that's how I got started.
I never thought about competing in the Olympic Games when I was growing up.
For me, I don't think about size - I focus more on being powerful and confident.
I'm the first Simone Biles.
I have dual citizenship.
I guess I just have really tough skin.
I take things one step at a time.
If I won gold in 2016, I think it would change my life.
They're like, 'Oh, you did a...' and I'm like, 'I did a what?' No, I flipped twice. I twisted twice. They go, 'It's called a...' and I'm like, 'Why do I need to know that? I just need to go and do that.'
I always say my biggest competitor is myself because, whenever I step out there on the mat, I'm competing against myself to prove that I can do this and that I am very well trained, prepared for it.
The sport is called artistic gymnastics. So you do have to be a little bit of an actress.
I don't fear what will happen, but you just get ahead of yourself, like, 'Oh my gosh, I wish it would happen now.'
I don't do bugs.
People comment on my pictures, 'Stay healthy.'
Sometimes I hear the crowd cheering, and most of the time your body's on auto pilot, so sometimes even after I do a floor routine, I'm like, 'Did I really just do that?'
Before a big event, I usually go to church and light a candle for St. Sebastian, who is the patron saint of athletes.
I am like any typical teenager.
I love a good Netflix binge!
I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps.
I don't necessarily have favorite brands.
At the end of the day, if I can say I had fun, it was a good day.
Always work hard and have fun in what you do because I think that's when you're more successful. You have to choose to do it.
