Simone Biles age is 29. The American gymnast was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in Spring, Texas. She is widely considered the greatest gymnast of all time, and many of her records are linked to age: she won world titles as a teenager and Olympic gold again at 27, an age when most gymnasts have long retired. The age shown here updates automatically.
Here we uncover Simone’s exact birth details, her career milestones by age, why her longevity is so rare in gymnastics and how her age compares with teammates and rivals.
Simone Biles age: key facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Current age | 29 years old |
| Date of birth | March 14, 1997 |
| Birthplace | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Hometown | Spring, Texas |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Generation | Gen Z (born at the very start of the range) |
Her date of birth is listed on official USA Gymnastics and Olympic profiles. She is one of the first members of Gen Z by the most widely used definition, which starts in 1997.
How old was Simone Biles when she started gymnastics?
Simone first tried gymnastics at about six, during a daycare field trip to a gym. Coaches noticed her strength and fearlessness almost right away and suggested she join a program. She was raised by her grandparents, who adopted her and her younger sister and supported her training from the start.
Simone Biles’ career by age
| Age | Year | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2003 | Tries gymnastics for the first time |
| 16 | 2013 | Wins her first world all-around title |
| 19 | 2016 | Wins four Olympic golds in Rio |
| 24 | 2021 | Competes at the Tokyo Olympics, wins team silver and beam bronze |
| 26 | 2023 | Returns to win another world all-around title |
| 27 | 2024 | Wins three Olympic golds and a silver in Paris |
Simone Biles at 16: a world champion
At the 2013 World Championships in Antwerp, 16-year-old Simone won the all-around gold. It was the beginning of an unbeaten run in the all-around that lasted for years. In gymnastics, where athletes often peak in their teens, winning a world title at 16 isn’t unheard of, but dominating for the next decade is.
Rio 2016: four golds at 19
At the Rio Olympics in 2016, when she was 19, Simone won gold in the team event, the all-around, vault and floor, plus a bronze on beam. She was the flag bearer for the US team at the closing ceremony. Those Games turned her into a global star far beyond gymnastics fans.
Tokyo 2021: a different kind of courage
At the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021 because of the pandemic, Simone was 24. During the team final she withdrew, explaining that she was experiencing “the twisties”, a dangerous loss of air awareness that can cause serious injury. She later returned to win bronze on beam. Her decision started a worldwide conversation about athlete safety and mental health in sport.
Paris 2024: Olympic champion again at 27
Most elite female gymnasts retire in their early twenties. Simone came back and, at 27, won gold in the team event, the all-around and vault in Paris, plus silver on floor. Her all-around title came eight years after her first in Rio, a gap almost unheard of in the sport.
- First Olympic all-around gold: age 19 (2016)
- Second Olympic all-around gold: age 27 (2024)
- More world and Olympic medals than any gymnast in history
- Several skills named after her in the official code of points
Why gymnasts usually retire young
Women’s gymnastics has traditionally been a young athlete’s sport. Training demands, injuries and the physical changes of adulthood make it hard to stay at the top past the early twenties. Simone, along with a few others, has challenged that idea. Better recovery methods, smarter training and rule changes that reward power and difficulty have helped older gymnasts compete longer.
Simone Biles age compared with teammates and rivals
| Gymnast | Born | Compared with Simone |
|---|---|---|
| Aly Raisman | May 25, 1994 | about 3 years older |
| Gabby Douglas | December 31, 1995 | about 1 year older |
| Rebeca Andrade | May 8, 1999 | about 2 years younger |
| Sunisa Lee | March 9, 2003 | about 6 years younger |
Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, her biggest rival in Paris, is about two years younger. Their friendly rivalry produced one of the most memorable podium moments of the Games, when Simone and Jordan Chiles bowed to Andrade after she won floor gold.
Simone Biles’ records and what age she set them
Simone has collected more world and Olympic medals than any gymnast in history, and many records came at very different ages. Seeing them side by side shows how long she has stayed at the top.
- World all-around titles spanning from age 16 to 26
- Olympic all-around golds eight years apart, at 19 and 27
- Multiple original skills named after her, some first performed in her mid-twenties
- A record total of world and Olympic medals across more than a decade
The skills named after her are especially impressive. Some of them were first landed in competition when she was already in her mid-twenties, an age when many gymnasts are simplifying their routines rather than adding harder elements.
Her comeback after Tokyo
After Tokyo, Simone stepped away from competition for about two years. She focused on her mental health, worked with a therapist and spoke openly about the pressure elite athletes face. In 2023, at 26, she returned and won the US national title and another world all-around gold. The comeback surprised even longtime fans, because few gymnasts return after such a long break, let alone at that age.
What helped her compete longer
- Smart scheduling, with fewer competitions between major events
- A focus on recovery and strength training
- Mental health support and open communication with coaches
- Experience that let her manage pressure better than as a teenager
Simone Biles’ personal life by age
In April 2023, at 26, Simone married NFL player Jonathan Owens. He was born on July 22, 1995, so he is about one and a half years older than her. The couple met through a dating app and have been open about their relationship with fans. Her life outside the gym is another reminder that elite athletes grow up and change during their careers, just like anyone else.
How to calculate Simone Biles’ age
Subtract 1997 from the current year. If today is before March 14, subtract one more. For example, on March 13, 2026 she was 28, and the next day she turned 29. You can also use our celebrity age on any date tool to see how old she was during any competition, as long as you know the date.
How Simone compares with gymnastics legends
Gymnastics history is full of champions who peaked very young. Nadia Comăneci, born on November 12, 1961, scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic history in 1976, when she was just 14. Mary Lou Retton, born on January 24, 1968, won all-around gold at 16 in 1984. At the time, it seemed normal for the best gymnasts to be teenagers.
Simone’s career turned that idea upside down. She was a teenage star, but she also won Olympic gold at 27, almost twice Nadia’s age in 1976. Rule changes have helped: there is now a minimum age of 16 for senior international competition, and scoring rewards difficulty and power that older, stronger athletes can deliver.
Champions and their ages at Olympic all-around gold
- Mary Lou Retton: 16 (1984)
- Gabby Douglas: 16 (2012)
- Simone Biles: 19 (2016) and 27 (2024)
- Sunisa Lee: 18 (2021)
No one else on that list won the title twice, and Simone’s eight-year gap between all-around golds is one of the longest in the sport’s history.
For young gymnasts today, her career sends a clear message: peaking at 16 is not the only path. With the right support, training and rest, it is possible to keep improving well into your twenties. That may be her most lasting legacy, beyond all the medals and the skills that carry her name.
Her age on this page updates every March 14, so it always reflects how long she has been rewriting the record books.
Frequently asked questions about Simone Biles age
How old is Simone Biles?
Simone Biles is 29 years old. She was born on March 14, 1997.
How old was Simone Biles in Rio 2016?
She was 19 when she won four gold medals in Rio.
How old was Simone Biles at the Paris Olympics?
She was 27 when she won three golds and a silver in Paris in 2024.
How old was Simone Biles when she started gymnastics?
She was about six years old.
How old was Simone Biles at her first world title?
She was 16 when she won the 2013 world all-around title.
Where was Simone Biles born?
In Columbus, Ohio. She grew up in Spring, Texas.
Is Simone Biles older than Sunisa Lee?
Yes, by about six years. Sunisa Lee was born in March 2003.
Conclusion
Simone Biles age is 29. Born on March 14, 1997, she started gymnastics at six, became world champion at 16, won four Olympic golds at 19 and returned to win three more at 27. Few athletes in any sport have stayed at the top for so long, and in gymnastics her longevity is almost unique. Her age here updates automatically, so check back any time.