Biles made history in Paris

Lapresse

Simone Biles and the United States women’s gymnastics team made Bercy Arena their playground during the team finals on Tuesday night, which saw Biles become the most decorated Olympic gymnast in United States history with her eighth medal. This one — gold — elicited a wave of reactions from various US sports icons, past and present, some in Paris and some watching elsewhere.

Biles led the US through a dominant final in which the Americans scored 171.296, securing gold comfortably over Italy and Brazil. Biles — who performed through a left calf injury — was in hot pursuit of history entering Tuesday night, while celebrities and sports stars alike cheered her on as she achieved her 38th total gymnastics medal, solidifying her status as the GOAT gymnast.

From NFL representation and WNBA royalty to stars of the screen

The most personal support Biles received at Bercy Arena was from husband Jonathan Owens, who was granted nearly a week of leave by the NFL‘s Chicago Bears in order to cheer on her wife in Paris. Owens flew in Tuesday, just in time for Biles’ event, and turned up wearing a 1990s-inspired Biles graphic T-shirt.

Owens was accompanied by recently-retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, whom many regard as among the greatest offensive linemen ever to play in the NFL. It was very much a case of greatness showing up for — and appreciating — greatness in another discipline.

Shortly before Biles began her showstopping, gold-clinching floor routine, NBC‘s cameras spotted Michael Phelps and Serena Williams among the crowd. Williams, a former world #1 and a legend of tennis, won gold in doubles tennis at three separate Olympic Games, and she claimed gold in singles tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Phelps is often regarded as the greatest swimmer — if not Olympian — in history, with 28 medals at the Games (including 23 gold).

College basketball star Paige Bueckers also chimed in on X/Twitter, saying that Biles and the rest of women’s team are all “GOATed” as she drew attention to the difficulty of artistic gymnastics by saying “to think I can’t even do a cartwheel.” Bueckers can shoot a basketball, though — the Connecticut Huskies guard is expected to the top overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Two-time WNBA champion and two-time MVP A’ja Wilson starred for the US women’s basketball team in its win over Japan on Monday. She also posted support for Biles and US gymnastics on X/Twitter, saying Biles nailed her routine so well that she “left no crumbs” on her way to team gold.

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Athletes weren’t the only ones to lavish praise on Biles for her accomplishment. Golden Globe-winning actress Nicole Kidman and her musician husband Keith Urban were looking on at Bercy Arena, as was Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman. Spike Lee, the acclaimed director of “Do the Right Thing” and “Malcolm X,” also showed his passion by rocking a blank US basketball jersey as he found his seat.

Biles’ singular presence has delivered a watershed moment for US gymnastics — and star athletes know greatness when they see it. With further unexpected, in-person support from celebrities, it should be clear to Biles that the US is behind her after her struggles at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.