On Excellence
Simone Biles is my current definition of #BlackGirlMagic. The 19-year-old gymnast is currently kicking ass and taking names as part of the US Olympic gymnastics team, but on her own she is considered by many, without exaggeration, to be the best gymnast in the world right now.
She is the three-time World All-around Champion (the first African-American to achieve the title, and first woman to do so three consecutive times), as well as the most decorated gymnast in World Championships history, with ten gold medals out of a total of fourteen.
When you see her talk about the things she has accomplished, she speaks with a shy smile, but with an unapologetic certainty in her eyes - she knows exactly how good she is, and doesn't really need anyone to agree with her or tell her otherwise.
And why would she? Most of her life has been spent honing her talents, working on expanding her focus in order to build a repertoire of skills as a gymnast. From floor routines, to balance beam, to vault, to all-around, she has continued to prove herself capable of learning, growing, and finally excelling in every aspect of the sport she has made her own.
And I do mean that literally. So far, she is the only gymnast who has been able to tackle "The Biles" — a move described as a “double layout with a half-twist and a blind landing”. If you described that to me verbally I’d do the nod and smile routine, but when you see her actually do it…it’s magic.
Add that to her coach, Aimee Boorman, saying that she takes at most 3 days to learn new routines that can take other athletes years to conquer and I begin to understand that the concept of "genius" needs to be expanded to become a more inclusive term, because that really is nothing short of genius.
Might I add that she's still only 19? I know that with gymnastics, like many sports, its participants tend to age out, but given her incredible talents, and the laser-focused mindset that has propelled her to accomplish greatly with them, I believe her star will only continue to rise.
