Sports Illustrated has named decorated gymnast Simone Biles their 2024 Sportsperson of the Year! An absolutely deserving choice too; Simone made a triumphant return at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris after battling “twisties” at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. Determined that Tokyo wouldn’t be the last chapter, she worked tirelessly to get back into form and prepare for the Olympics in Paris where she dominated! After her performance in Paris, Biles is now tied for the second-most decorated female gymnast in Olympic history.

“Simone Biles is Sports Illustrated’s 2024 Sportsperson of the Year because she won gold, and then another gold, and then another; because she changed the face of her sport and the conversations around athletes in general; because she continues to speak out about issues that matter to her,” the magazine wrote of Biles.”And perhaps most of all because after she wondered aloud to [teammate Jordan] Chiles whether she was about to relive the darkest period of her career, she took a deep breath, she saluted the judges and she broke into a run.”

Simone Biles will receive the award in person on January 7th, at its annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas. This year’s ceremony, held at Wynn Las Vegas, will be hosted by actor Keegan-Michael Key.

Big congrats to her!