Simone Biles made history last weekend. In her first competition in 18 months, the 24-year-old landed a Yurchenko double pike — a move no other female gymnast has ever even attempted in competition.
A video went viral shortly after, with Biles herself tweeting, “I’m sorry but I can’t believe I completed a double pike on vault.”
Biles, who has a reported net worth of $6 million, is also making moves in business.
In April, the gymnast left Nike to form a new partnership with Gap-owned Athleta. Biles signed with Nike in 2015, though she only made small appearances for the activewear giant.
“I feel like it wasn’t just about my achievements, it’s what I stood for,” she said about Athleta. “I feel like they also support me, not just as an athlete, but as an individual outside of the gym and the change that I want to create.”
- Since going pro in 2015, the winner of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals has been sponsored by Visa, Kellogg’s, Beats By Dr. Dre, and Hershey, among others.
- She released a signature product line of equipment and mats with Spieth America, as well as an autobiography in 2016.
“Simone Biles represents the quintessential American dream, and that’s what makes her such a powerful brand ambassador,” Nelson Freitas, chief strategy officer at Wunderman New York, told Digiday.
Biles is set to appear in the Tokyo Olympics, which kick off July 23.
