Simone Biles Reveals She 'Apologized' To Aly Raisman

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07/01/2024 09:19 PM

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 16: Simone Biles (L) and Alexandra Raisman (R) of the United States pose for photographs after winning the gold and silver medals respectively after competing on the Women's Floor Final on Day 11 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 16, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Simone Biles will compete in her third Olympics after successfully qualifying for the Paris Games on Sunday. At age 27, the four-time gold medalist is the veteran of Team USA's women's gymnastics squad.

Now that she's older, Biles joked about calling former teammate Aly Raisman "grandma" when they represented the U.S. together in 2016. Raisman, who won two gold medals in 2012, was the group's elder statesman in Rio de Janeiro at 22 years old.

"I definitely have to apologize to Aly for calling her grandma because, whew, I feel like I'm way older now than me calling her grandma when we were younger," Biles said during Sunday night's press conference, via Gymnastics Now.

Biles joked that it was past her bedtime when speaking to reporters around 11 p.m. in Minneapolis. She figured Raisman would get a kick out of seeing the tables turn for Biles, who made her Olympics debut at 19.

"I'm a lot older and more mature," Biles declared. "What was the rest of the question? See, I'm forgetting."

Biles and Raisman won gold together in the 2016 team event. Raisman also placed second to Biles in the floor exercise and all-around.

Along with Biles, Tokyo Games participants Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey will return to represent the U.S. in Paris. Yet 16-year-old Hezly Rivera may be tempted to call Biles "grandma."

Not shying away from her experience, Biles told reporters she'll guide Rivera through her Olympic debut.

"We're really proud of her for making this team, and we're really excited to kind of show her the ropes," Biles said. "At least she doesn't have to do it alone. She has four veterans that have been there before."