Simone Biles may have taken a break from the mat, but she’s certainly not taking a break from living her best life. After dominating the Paris 2024 Olympics with 11 medals, including eight golds, Simone Biles has taken a step back from elite gymnastics in 2025, focusing on personal well-being, community engagement, and her life outside the sport. After skipping both the 2025 Winter Cup and the U.S. Classic, Simone jetted off for a vacation with her pals, soaking up the sun and good vibes. But how do we know of it?

Well, her Instagram has been a vibrant scrapbook of sandy beaches, vibrant cocktails, and those signature Biles smiles that light up any feed. From sipping margaritas in Houston to posing with her fiancé, Jonathan Owens, she’s been living her best life, giving fans a glimpse of the carefree side of an Olympic legend. But who could’ve predicted the wild twist her trip would take?

Then, out of nowhere, Simone dropped an Instagram story that left jaws on the floor. Posted on July 23, 2025, from the top of a scenic hike, the story read: “not our money being at the top of the hike w/ our captain so we really had no money WELCOME TO POOR MAN’S BAR.” Wait, what? The 28-year-old, whose $11 million earnings make her one of gymnastics’ biggest stars, is stuck with no cash?

The cryptic post, tagged at a remote location, showed Simone and her crew laughing, with a makeshift “Poor Man’s Bar” sign cobbled together from sticks and a napkin. No glitz, no glam, just pure, unfiltered Simone. How did the queen of flips end up in this quirky predicament?

It’s not clear if they forgot their wallets or got stranded after an impromptu adventure, but the story screams classic Simone Biles resilience. This is the woman who redefined gymnastics with moves like “The Biles” and championed mental health, so a cashless hiccup? Just another hurdle to laugh off. Simone’s always been about finding joy in the moment, but what’s the full story behind this broke-on-a-hike saga? Will she spill the tea in her next post? And what else has Biles been doing other than mat?

Simone Biles shines bright with double ESPY glory

Well, not only by beaches and hills pictures, Simone Biles, the gymnastics GOAT, is roaring through awards, too. She just added more hardware to her glittering collection at the 2025 ESPY Awards on July 16 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Fresh off her Paris 2024 Olympic haul of three golds and a silver, the 28-year-old Texan snagged two major honors: Best Championship Performance for her all-around mastery and Best Athlete in Women’s Sports, her seventh ESPY overall.

“That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men,” Biles quipped after kissing her husband, Jonathan Owens, beating out Stephen Curry, Freddie Freeman, and Rory McIlroy. Her heartfelt speech honored Central Texas flood victims, showing her heart matches her talent. How does she keep raising the bar?

Backstage, Biles admitted to “Good Morning America” that speaking onstage is tougher than flipping on a beam: “I’d rather do a million beam routines than give a speech.” Her poise, though, was undeniable, rocking a custom Athleta gown designed by Zac Posen. With 11 Olympic medals and five moves named after her, Biles continues to redefine greatness. “The recognition means more than you guys know,” she told the crowd, crediting her team and fans. What’s next for this unstoppable icon?