"Not the end" - Simone Biles makes major announcement about her gymnastics career

Simone Biles has shut down the rumors surrounding her retirement from gymnastics, claiming that the 2024 Paris Olympics was not the end of her career. The 2024 Games marked the third Olympic appearance of the gymnast, and while the majority of the gymnasts are retired at her age, she isn't done yet.

Biles is the most decorated athlete in the history of gymnastics, and arguably the most dominant. The 27-year-old hasn't lost a single all-around competition since her debut World Championships in 2013, and eleven years later in Paris, she still looked a class apart from the rest.

However, the eight-time Olympic champion had been complaining of her age and fatigue in recent months, which led to speculations around her retirement. She has now put an end to those, confirming that her gymnastics career isn't over yet.

Speaking during a Q&A session following the screening of 'Simone Biles: Rising Part Two', the American was asked about the legacy she had left in the sport. She replied (via Olympics.com):

"Usually if you’re using the word legacy, it means you’re done. So, I don’t have an answer for you."

The Q&A moderator, Scott Evans, later told the audience that he had previewed the question to Biles before the show, and her response was:

"Why are you asking me that? It’s not the end."

While another Olympic appearance would be a far-stretched idea at the moment, there's a high possibility that Biles will compete at the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.

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Simone Biles announces end of her famed Yurchenko Double Pike

Artistic Gymnastics World Championships- Simone Biles lands the Yurchenko DOuble Pike for first time in an official competition (Source: Getty)

Yurchenko Double Pike is arguably one of the most difficult skills in gymnastics, and Simone Biles is the only gymnast in history to land the move in an international competition. However, she will no longer be doing that in any official competition.

Following her successful campaign at the Paris Olympics, Biles held a small funeral for the YDP while sitting atop a vault table surrounded by white flowers. She captioned the post:

"Rest in peace yurchenko double pike"

The 27-year-old first debuted the combination in 2021 before officially getting it named at the 2023 World Championships. Though she lost in 2023 after being deducted for having her coach as a spotter, Biles had mastered the skill ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games and easily won the gold medal on vault.