Why Did Simone Biles Never Join NCAA?
August 5, 2024, Paris, Ile de France, France: Simone Biles of the United States waits for score with coach Cecile Landi after competing on the beam on day three of the gymnastics event finals at the Arena Bercy during the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday August 5, 2024 in Paris. Paris France - ZUMAj89_ 20240805_oly_j89_061 Copyright: xPaulxKitagaki,xJr.x
August 5, 2024, Paris, Ile de France, France: Simone Biles of the United States waits for score with coach Cecile Landi after competing on the beam on day three of the gymnastics event finals at the Arena Bercy during the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday August 5, 2024 in Paris. Paris France - ZUMAj89_ 20240805_oly_j89_061 Copyright: xPaulxKitagaki,xJr.x
An Olympic medalist, World Champion, and gymnastics icon, Simone Biles has done it all. But why not attempt to win a national championship to elongate the resume?
Given that the most decorated gymnast in history verbally committed to the UCLA Bruins in August 2014, there was a chance to see Biles as a UCLA athlete. But by July 29, 2015, life had a different plan for her.
“This was before the NCAA began allowing athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness,” wrote Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel. “So, when Biles won another world championship in 2015, she was approached with millions in endorsement contracts.”
Aug 7, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Simone Biles (USA) performs the balance beam during women's gymnastic qualifications in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Rio Olympic Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Simone Biles (USA) performs the balance beam during women's gymnastic qualifications in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Rio Olympic Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
After showing elite performance at the national and international level by 2015, Biles was undoubtedly the significant favorite to dominate the 2016 Olympics in Rio. And that was when Nike, Procter & Gamble, Hershey’s, etc., approached her.
Then came July 29, 2015, when she stood at the crossroads of going pro or choosing the NCAA. The decision was hard, but the reigning gymnast chose to turn professional and forfeited her NCAA eligibility.
“It was a tough decision,” Biles said, per Yahoo Sports. "Because I loved UCLA so much.”
Surely, having the current NIL policy back then could’ve led to a different outcome had it been the only reason that impacted Biles’ decision.
Simone Biles Wanted to Attend International Events
In a 2024 appearance on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, Biles revealed another angle that influenced her decision. And it had to do with seeing her peers make international tours and get featured in a magazine.
“It was because of the girls I was going to camp with had been going on international assignments,” she said. “I got this magazine one time, and they were in Italy, and I was like, ‘I want to go to Italy.’ And my coach was like, ‘Well, then you have to do elite gymnastics.’”
And that intensified her urge to compete at the next level. An excited Biles chimed in, “Let’s do that”, and went on to become the greatest gymnast of the era with 11 Olympic and 30 World Championship medals under her belt.
But had she joined UCLA, how do you think her NCAA run would’ve been like? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy
Edited by
Sijo Paul