Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles received a warm welcome as they arrived in Texas from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Thursday afternoon.
As both of them came down an escalator at the Bush Intercontinental Airport, they were greeted by a crowd of supporters, including family members and friends. Children and fans held signs to show support of the gymnasts, just like what happened in 2016 when Biles returned as a national hero following the Rio de Janeiro Games.
ABC 13 News spoke with both her sister Aria and father regarding Biles finally being home from the Olympic Games.
"Simone was doing this for herself and she'd been gone for so long without her family, so I think it's good that we just welcomed her back and everyone's super emotional," said her sister, Aria.
Her sister also spoke about the difficulty of her sister dealing with health issues while she was competing overseas.
"It was really hard because I felt like she needed us, but seeing her today, I know that she's okay and I know she wants to be home," said Aria Biles.
"Initially, [Simone] wasn't sure if she would be able to compete at all," said Ronald Biles. "So we just said, 'Hey, keep trying your best.' She tried to fight this every day in hopes of improving. We just encouraged her. We told her, 'Do what you have to do, but first of all, stay safe. Stay safe and healthy.'"
Biles withdrew from the games on July 27 after dealing with 'twisties' and feeling as if she had the "weight of the world" on her shoulders.
Shortly after her departure, she spoke to the Today show about her decision.
"Physically, I feel good, I'm in shape," she told Hoda Kotb on the Today show after her withdrawal. "Emotionally, that kind of varies on the time and moment. Coming here to the Olympics and being the head star isn't an easy feat, so we're just trying to take it one day at a time and we'll see."
On July 31, Biles withdrew from two more Olympic events before returning to the Games on August 3. She won a bronze medal in the women's beam final, accompanying a silver medal that she won with the women's team performance.
"I didn't expect a medal today, I just wanted to go out there for me and that's what I did," Biles said to media members at the Olympics after that medal.
"I was proud of myself just to go out there after what I've been through."
Biles is currently tied with Shannon Miller as the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast ever.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
