"Martha Karolyi wasn’t always such a big fan of me" - When Simone Biles opened up about coach's crucial advice amid tough training routines

Simone Biles once opened up about Team USA's former coordinator Marta Karolyi's advice during her training routines as a part of the U.S. National Gymnastics team. The American gymnast recalled her early days as a part of the U.S. Gymnastics Team and how she would be cheering her teammates on after their routines in the gym.

Karolyi, who was then the National Coordinator of the team, called Biles aside and asked her to remain focussed during practice sessions. However, she shared that being too focused on her upcoming routine made her nervous and tense.

Biles spoke about her experience in detail in her memoir "Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance". As the most decorated gymnast continued to register major wins, Karolyi eventually gave in to her cheering as well as jolly personality on the sidelines. However, that did not bring about any changes in Karolyi's tough training routines.

"Martha Karolyi wasn’t always such a big fan of me being Simone, though. I remember when I did my first few assignments as a brand-new national team member, I’d congratulate the other girls after their routines. I was just being friendly," Simone Biles wrote.

"Martha took me aside. 'Simone, what are you doing?' she said. 'You can’t go around talking to everybody and cheering and waving like that. It’s not how we operate. You have to stay serious and focused here. Just concentrate on your own routine.' I realized that Martha thought me being so social with the other girls meant that I wasn’t staying mentally in my zone. But over time she began to understand that what she saw as a distraction was actually good for me."

Simone Biles has been vocal about the tough training routines established by Marta Karolyi.

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Simone Biles on her incredible improvement under Marta Karolyi's coaching methods

Simone Biles at the Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 10 - Source: Getty

The American gymnast Simone Biles credits Marta Karolyi for making great improvements as she always felt that there was room for betterment.

Moreover, despite putting forward a great routine on the mat during competitions, Biles revealed that she would always look out for Karoly as she cared about the former coach's validation.

"Nothing was ever good enough for Marta. She always thought you had room for improvement. That's what made us so good. I wasn't ever afraid of the judges, or the crowd, just Marta's opinion, which is sad. But her validation was everything... I looked up at Martha when I finished that beam routine in Rio and she kind of gave a look like, 'Yeah, OK, Simone.,'" she said (as quoted by ESPN)

Furthermore, Biles revealed that as she would come out of the mat after her maneuvers, Karolyi would always insist she was focused on putting forward her best performance in the competition.