Soaring Through Life   

   If any human being ever came close to flying without outside help, it would be Simone Biles, a 22-year-old from Texas.

   She is rewriting gymnastics and redefining what can be done in competition. We might call her the Tiger Woods of the gym, but Tiger can't do the triple-twisting double-flip (the triple double). Or the double-twisting double-flip beam dismount (the double double). 

   The latter is so difficult the International Gymnastics Federation downplays its value to deter other gymnasts from even trying it. Biles could learn to play golf, but no golfer we know could dream of doing her thing at any level.

   The Associated Press named her the 2019 female athlete of the year, her second such award, and it's not even an Olympic year. 

   Biles has a record 25 world championship medals, including five golds at the 2019 world championships. At the 2016 Olympics, she won five medals. 

   

No, this is not upside down.

  She would like to live an ordinary life, but knows she is positioned to use her fame to advocate for survivors and be an agent for change. Biles will attempt to become the first female gymnast in decades to repeat as all-around champion at next year's Olympics.  


              Jimmy