"I feel a relief off my shoulder" - Simone Biles opens up on competing amidst high expectations from people at major events

Simone Biles recently opened up about competing under high pressure and expectations at events. The gymnast won four medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, taking her total tally of Olympic medals to 11.

Biles won gold in the all-around individual after scoring 59.131 points, becoming the third woman to become a two-time Olympic gymnastics all-around champion, alongside Laris Latynina and Vera Caslavska. The 27-year-old won the other two golds in the team all-around and the vault event, where the team scored 171.296 points in the former and Biles scored 15.300 to win the latter event.

Days after her Olympics exploits, in an interview with former gymnast Alexandra Raisman, Biles opened up about the high expectations she faced while competing.

Raisman praised the gymnast for having done "so much for gymnastics" and was always supportive of her peers. In response, Biles remarked that there have always been high expectations from her, and she feels relieved after winning a medal, whether it is a gold or a bronze.

"I think what i've come to the conclusion of is there's such high expectations on me that I'm supposed to win, so whenever I do win or get whatever medal that is, I feel a relief off my shoulder, like I did it, I'm done, let's move on to the next," Biles said (via 'Olympics' on Instagram).

In an earlier interview with Olympics.com, Biles reflected on her hard work and the time she spent with her therapist during the Olympics, adding that the "weight" of the pressure and expectations was lifted after the Games.

"A lot of training with Cecile and Laurent (Landi), a lot of hours with my therapist, making sure all the ducks are in a row so that I can perform as well as I want to. So, after all is said and done, a lot of weight is off my shoulders," Biles said.

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Simone Biles reflected on her 2024 Paris Olympics campaign

Simone Biles recently opened up about her achievements at the Paris Olympics in a recent interview with the "Today Show". She was asked if the realization of her triumphs at the French capital had sunk in yet, to which, she replied:

"Not completely and I don't think I will until one day I decide to retire. But yesterday when we got back to the village I looked at Jordan and I just started bawling my eyes out and he was like I knew it was gonna happen."

She also added that she felt proud and was also feeling bittersweet that the journey was over.

"I think I was so full of emotion and I finally released all of that. I was so proud, happy, and bittersweet that the journey is over and it's so crazy that it happened so quick, my third Olympics."

After what was the third Olympic campaign of her career, Biles is now the most decorated gymnast of all time, with 11 Olympic medals to her name.