What can’t Simone Biles do? She’s a proud daughter, a supportive wife, a fierce mental health advocate, a loyal friend, a walking inspiration, a passionate globetrotter, and—let’s not forget—a gymnastics legend with more flips than most of us have socks. Seriously, if being unstoppable were a sport, she’d already have the gold. And yeah, she’s finally getting the flowers she deserves. Time Magazine just dropped its 100 Most Influential People of 2025 list, and guess who’s front and center? Simone freaking Biles. And she’s not alone—four American women athletes made the cut. Let that sink in. Four women. One list. And Biles is leading the charge.

Let’s talk numbers. Biles has 11 Olympic medals—seven of them gold—from Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. She’s arguably the greatest gymnast of all time, and it’s not even close. But her legacy goes way beyond podiums and perfect landings. In Tokyo, she made headlines by pulling out of the team and individual all-around competitions to prioritize her mental health. That move? It flipped the conversation worldwide. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about winning—it was about well-being. And that’s the kind of power that earns you a spot on a list like this.

And guess who wrote her tribute? None other than Alexandra ‘Aly’ Raisman—her former teammate and the “grandma” of their 2016 Rio squad and the owner of 6 Olympic medals herself. These two were part of the legendary “Final Five” that won team gold, and their bond has stood the test of time. Aly didn’t hold backafter seeing her on the list: “She [Simone] is both deeply human and undeniably superhuman—a combination that makes her impact profound,” she wrote in her tribute, which was shared by Gymnastics Now on X. “Through it all, she has embraced her vulnerability, while refusing to let it define or limit her.”

That’s coming from someone who’s been there. Simone Biles may have started as a teammate, but now? She’s a movement. So, it’s no wonder that the connection between Simone and TIME magazine feels unbreakable since 2017.

Simone Biles’ influence reaches far beyond the gym floor

Back in 2017, Simone Biles was already making waves on the world stage, and it didn’t take long for TIME magazine to notice. She earned a spot on their list of the 100 Most Influential People, which made sense given her unbelievable success at the 2016 Rio Olympics. With four gold medals and one bronze in her pocket at the age of just 19, Simone wasn’t just a gymnastics star—she was a global sensation. That same year, she also took home the ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete. But it was just a starting point.

In 2021, Simone Biles emerged as someone greater than a gymnastics performer. In Tokyo, she strategically withdrew from competitions to prioritize her mental state. The decision triggered many debates and discussions about the need for mental health awareness in the athletic community. TIME awarded her a spot on their influential persons list for demonstrating the strength to place her health needs before gymnastics achievements

In 2024, Simone Biles returned to competitions to display her true potential to the world. When she withdrew from several events in the Tokyo Olympics, naysayers didn’t let her have it easy. She had to withstand her fair share of relentless criticism. But she hushed all critics by her remarkable presence on the mat in the French capital. In doing so, Simone Biles secured three gold medals and a single silver medal during the Paris Olympics and ultimately accumulated 11 Olympic medals through her career. Biles became the recipient of both Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year award and Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. Through her achievements, Simone Biles became a legend. Apart from winning medals, Simone Biles emphasizes that every obstacle in life presents an opportunity to become more powerful than before.