Simone Biles stands up for German gymnastics team after non-athletes deny them bus seats at Paris Olympics 2024

Simone Biles was lauded German gymnast Sarah Voss, who not only received Biles' custom pin but also a seat on the bus, en route to Paris Olympics podium training. Voss revealed that when non-athletes refused seats on a crowded bus, Biles fought on behalf of her and the german gymnastics team to get seats.

Simone Biles, 27, will compete at the third Olympic Games of her career after five-medal podium at the 2016 Rio Olympics and a disappointing finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The most decorated gymnast faced 'twisties' in the latter event and withdrew midway, which promoted her to the position of a mental health advocate.

She has been the voice of several young athletes, imparting the 'it's OK to not be OK' mantra to them. (via Olympics.com) Simone Biles also works for the 'Friends of the Children' non-profit organization to help foster kids find a life they deserve.

Biles' kindness further came to light in the recently surfaced Instagram story of Sarah Voss, who said that the three-time Olympian fought for the German women's gymnastics team to get a seat inside the bus. The gymnasts were travelling to the podium training arena from the Olympic village in a fully packed bus, where non-athletes denied seating to Voss and her team even though it was nearly an hour-long ride.

"Not only standing up for herself and her mental health but also fighting for us to get a seat at the overly packed bus towards the Arena haha. It was 45min ride and some non athletes didn't intend to make a move for us," she added in her story.

Sarah Vossi on Simone Biles; Instagram - @sarah.vossi

The picture of Voss' story also featured the custom pin of Simone Biles, a small golden heart emblazoned with her signature.

Pauline Schäfer-Betz, another member of the German women's gymnastics team, also showed off her special custom pin of Biles, captioning her Instagram story as:

"This one is special”

Simone Biles' former coach Cecile Landi - "I think it's going to be day by day"

Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics, citing 'twisties', not only prioritizing her mental health but also normalizing taking a stand for oneself. After a turbulent end to her Tokyo stint, Biles marked her comeback to the podium training at the Bercy Arena. Cecile Landi, having watched the Olympic from up close, felt that the latter will take it 'day by day'.

She also shared that having put forth her vulnerability already, Biles will be courageous enough to do that again.

"I think it's going to be day by day, we're going to decide after qualification. I think for her just knowing that she has the option to say 'Hey, I maybe want to take one event off out of the whole two weeks,' is mentally helping," Landi said. (via BBC)

The 27-year-old will be cheered on by husband, Jonathan Owens, who was granted permission to attend the Olympics despite the Hall of Fame Game coinciding.