Simone Biles raised concern among fans on Saturday, sharing an update after a surprise hospital visit. The 29-year-old gymnast posted a photo on Instagram Stories, highlighting her hospital bracelet and sharing the news with her 11.8 million platform followers.
“Almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card earlier this week,” Biles wrote, adding that she typically preserves her privacy in such circumstances, but felt compelled to share her recent experience with fans.
In Biles’ photo, her wrist showed multiple hospital bands, including a red band, along with what appeared to be a medical dressing likely covering an IV site. However, the significance of the bands was not disclosed.
The 11-time Olympic medalist described this week’s occurrence as “one of, if not the scariest experience of [her] life,” sharing that the stress was compounded by her husband’s absence due to work.
Biles is married to Indianapolis Colts safety Jonathan Owens, who was in Indiana for practice while Biles was presumably at her home in Houston, Texas.
Just days earlier on Wednesday, Biles shared a video from her Texas home where she happily jumped on a trampoline with former U.S. elite teammate and LSU gymnast Zoe Miller. On Friday, Biles posted from St. Louis, Missouri – her husband’s hometown. Nonetheless, after flipping on Wednesday and traveling on Friday, the Olympic champion will be confined to bed rest, she says.
Though Biles did not disclose the cause of her hospital visit or the nature of her diagnosis and recovery, she shared that she plans to explain the situation to the public “sooner or later.”
While Biles has remained busy, the most decorated gymnast of all-time has been enjoying a hiatus from the competitive gymnastics stage.
Simone Biles’ Comeback Plans
Biles’ current gymnastics plans are undetermined, with the three-time Olympian indicating that the door remains open for an LA 2028 comeback.
More recently, Biles attended the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, Spain, where she awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to Romanian Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci.
Though Biles has been undeniably successful in her past comebacks, the 29-year-old recently underwent breast augmentation surgery, leading fans to point to retirement.
Age is also a factor. In Paris, Biles became the oldest U.S. gymnast (27) to win an Olympic gold medal and the oldest to ever win an Olympic all-around title. In Los Angeles, Biles would be 31.