Simone Biles has revealed that she came close to death following a medical emergency that required hospitalisation. The seven-time Olympic gymnastics champion shared the news with her followers on Instagram on Saturday, describing the incident as one of the most frightening moments of her life.
'Almost Dying Wasn't on My Bingo Card'
In an Instagram story, Biles posted a photo of her wrist adorned with multiple hospital bracelets and wrote: 'I'm not one to normally share things like this because I value privacy in today's age, but almost dying wasn't on my bingo card earlier this week.' She added that the experience was 'one of, if not the scariest experience of my life.'
The 29-year-old athlete explained that the ordeal was compounded by the absence of her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, who was away at a training camp with the Indianapolis Colts. 'I've been in bed resting this week,' she wrote. 'I'll explain sooner or later but [shout-out] to my close circle who reached out, checked in, visited + or sent flowers.'
Previous Health Concerns
Biles has previously spoken about the physical toll of elite gymnastics. In an interview with L'Equipe last year, she recounted a collapse after the 2024 Olympics. 'I went back to the [Olympic] village, I took the elevator and my body literally collapsed. I was sick for 10 days,' she said. She also noted that even casual activities like sprinting with friends left her with aches for days.
Biles, who is the most decorated gymnast in history, has been open about the challenges of balancing her career and health. She has not yet provided further details about the recent medical emergency but has thanked her close circle for their support during this time.
