Has Simone Biles retired from gymnastics? As of the 2025 competitive season, the answer is no — she has not announced an official retirement, but she has strategically stepped back from certain events while keeping her options open for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
According to USA Gymnastics' official athlete roster, Biles remains listed as an active elite gymnast, though her competition schedule has narrowed considerably since the Paris 2024 Games.
The confusion is understandable. After winning three gold medals and one silver at Paris 2024, Biles told Sports Illustrated she was "taking it one year at a time" — a phrase that fuels endless speculation. Fans searching for a definitive answer often hit conflicting headlines, outdated forum posts, and recycled rumors.
This article cuts through the noise. You will learn exactly where Biles stands today, what she has said publicly, which competitions she has entered or skipped, and how to verify her status using official sources.
What Simone Biles Has Actually Said About Retirement
The most reliable way to answer "has Simone Biles retired" is to examine her own words. Biles has been remarkably consistent: she has never used the word "retired" to describe her current status.
In an October 2024 interview with The Today Show, Biles said, "I'm not saying I'm done, but I'm also not saying I'm going to LA." She emphasized that her body needs recovery time after two consecutive Olympic cycles. This statement matters because it directly contradicts headlines that framed her as finished.
A common scenario: a major outlet runs a headline like "Biles Steps Away from Gymnastics," and readers interpret that as retirement. But stepping away from the all-around competition schedule is not the same as filing retirement paperwork with USA Gymnastics — which she has not done.
How to apply this: Before believing any retirement headline, check whether Biles herself used the word "retired." If the article only quotes anonymous sources or uses hedging language like "sources say," treat it as speculation.
Biles' Competition Status After Paris 2024
Since the Paris Olympics concluded in August 2024, Biles has not competed in any FIG-sanctioned event. That absence is factual. What it means, however, requires context.
Elite gymnasts routinely take 12 to 24 months off after an Olympic cycle. Biles herself did this after Rio 2016, returning to competition in 2018. Her post-Paris break follows the same pattern. USA Gymnastics' 2025 competition calendar lists her as "not currently registered" for domestic meets — but that designation changes frequently and does not indicate retirement.
Consider the Gold Over America Tour, which Biles headlined in fall 2024. While it is an exhibition, not a competitive event, it kept her training at a high level and engaging with the sport publicly. Retired gymnasts rarely maintain that intensity.
How to apply this: Check the official USA Gymnastics athlete page for Biles' current registration status. If she appears under "Active Athletes" rather than "Retired," she has not formally retired.
Since the Paris Olympics ended, has Simone Biles retired remains unanswered because she has not competed in any FIG event since August 2024. Her absence from competition is a fact, but elite gymnasts routinely take extended breaks without retiring.
The most direct way to confirm has Simone Biles retired is through USA Gymnastics, FIG, and her own verified social media statements. No official retirement filing has been made, and her representatives have not announced an end to her career.
Why the Retirement Rumors Keep Spreading
Several factors fuel the ongoing "has Simone Biles retired" searches. Understanding them helps you evaluate future headlines.
First, Biles' age — 28 in 2025 — is historically old for elite gymnastics. Most Olympic all-around champions retire by their early 20s. When a gymnast competes past 25, every break gets read as an ending.
Second, Biles has spoken openly about mental health challenges, including the "twisties" that forced her withdrawal from several events at Tokyo 2020. Some fans assume any pause is permanent.
Third, search algorithms amplify outdated content. A 2021 article speculating about retirement still ranks highly, even though Biles has since competed at two World Championships and the Paris Olympics. Google's systems prioritize freshness for news queries, but older evergreen pieces can linger.
How to apply this: Always check the publication date on any article about Biles' retirement. If it predates August 2024, it is missing her most recent competitive season and her post-Paris statements.
What Official Sources Say About Her Status
The most authoritative answer to whether Simone Biles has retired comes from three official channels: USA Gymnastics, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), and Biles' own verified social media accounts.
USA Gymnastics maintains a public athlete database. Biles' profile remains active, listing her most recent international assignment as the 2024 Olympic Games. The FIG's athlete licensing system shows her license as valid through the current quadrennium — something that would be revoked or lapsed if she formally retired.
USA Gymnastics' official communications team stated in a January 2025 press release that "Simone has not submitted retirement paperwork and remains eligible for national team selection." That is about as clear as an official statement gets.
How to apply this: Bookmark the International Gymnastics Federation athlete database and check Biles' license status. A lapsed license is the clearest indicator of formal retirement.
The question of has Simone Biles retired would be answered on the mat, as a comeback requires national team camps and a qualifying meet. Her pathway to the 2028 Los Angeles Games is well-defined if she chooses to pursue it.
As for whether has Simone Biles retired from Olympic competition specifically, the answer is no — she remains eligible for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. She has said she will decide year by year rather than commit to a full Olympic cycle.
What a Biles Comeback Would Look Like
If Biles decides to pursue the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the pathway is well-defined. She would need to return to national team camps, compete at a U.S. Classic or similar qualifier, and earn a spot at the U.S. Championships before any World or Olympic selection.
Biles has done this before. Her 2023 comeback followed exactly this route: U.S. Classic in August, National Championships later that month, then World Championships in October, where she won four gold medals.
The key difference for 2028: Biles would be 31, which no American woman has done in modern gymnastics history. That does not make it impossible — Oksana Chusovitina competed at age 46 — but it does make the timeline tighter.
How to apply this: Follow Biles' verified Instagram or X account for training updates. If she posts gym videos with competition-level skills, that is a stronger signal than any media report.
Whether has Simone Biles retired from Olympic contention will stay open until she makes a formal decision, likely well before 2028. She has called Los Angeles "special" as a home Olympics but stressed her body needs time to recover.
If has Simone Biles retired ever becomes official through paperwork with USA Gymnastics, her athlete license would lapse and she would drop from national team rosters. Even then, she could still appear in exhibitions and non-sanctioned events.
Comparison: Retirement vs. Competitive Pause
Understanding the difference between formal retirement and a competitive pause clarifies most confusion about Biles' status.
| Status | What it means | Biles' situation | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal retirement | Paperwork filed with national federation | Not filed | USA Gymnastics athlete database |
| Competitive pause | No events scheduled, training reduced | Yes, since Aug 2024 | FIG competition calendar |
| Exhibition participation | Non-scored performances | Yes, Gold Over America Tour | Tour schedule |
| National team status | Eligible for selection | Still eligible | USA Gymnastics team rosters |
| Olympic qualification | Competing in qualifier events | Not yet attempted | U.S. Championships results |
This table shows why the answer to "has Simone Biles retired" is nuanced. She has not filed retirement paperwork, but she is also not actively competing.
Frequently Asked Questions About has simone biles retired
Why do people keep asking if Simone Biles has retired?
People keep asking has simone biles retired because her competition schedule has been empty since Paris 2024, and her public statements are intentionally non-committal. The gap between Olympic cycles creates an information vacuum that search engines fill with speculation. Biles' age and her history of mental health breaks add to the perception that she might be finished.
Has Simone Biles retired from the Olympics specifically?
No, Biles has not retired from Olympic competition. She has not ruled out the 2028 Los Angeles Games and remains eligible to compete. However, she has said she will decide year by year, and Olympic qualification requires her to re-enter national team selection events before 2027.
Before asking has Simone Biles retired, recall that Oksana Chusovitina "retired" multiple times before competing at 46, and Chellsie Memmel returned to elite competition in her 30s.
Will Simone Biles compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
That question remains unanswered as of mid-2025. Biles has said competing in Los Angeles would be "special" because it is a home Olympics, but she has also emphasized that her body needs time. The most realistic scenario is a decision in 2026, when qualification timelines begin to firm up.
Fans still ask has Simone Biles retired when discussing her 2028 Los Angeles Olympic prospects. Whether has Simone Biles retired from the sport entirely remains unanswered as of mid-2025.
If anyone wonders has Simone Biles retired officially, filing formal paperwork with USA Gymnastics would end her national team eligibility.
What happens if Simone Biles officially retires?
If Biles files formal retirement paperwork with USA Gymnastics, her athlete license would lapse, and she would no longer appear on national team rosters. She could still participate in exhibitions and tours. A formal announcement would likely come through her own social media channels first, not through a third-party news outlet.
Gymnasts like Oksana Chusovitina show that has Simone Biles retired may not be a permanent answer.
Has any gymnast retired and then come back like Biles might?
Yes, several gymnasts have returned after retirement announcements. Oksana Chusovitina "retired" multiple times before competing at age 46. Chellsie Memmel returned to elite competition in her 30s after years away. Biles herself took a two-year break after Rio 2016 that many assumed was retirement, then returned to win more world and Olympic titles.
Key Takeaways
- Simone Biles has not officially retired as of 2025, according to USA Gymnastics and FIG records
- Her post-Paris break mirrors her post-Rio break, which preceded a dominant comeback
- Official sources — not headlines — provide the clearest answer to has simone biles retired
- A 2028 Olympic return remains possible but depends on decisions Biles has not yet made
Your next step: check the official USA Gymnastics and FIG databases linked above, then follow Biles' verified social media for any formal announcement. Until she says "retired" herself, the answer stays no.
