Beyoncé celebrates Simone Biles’ Olympic triumph in tribute video
"Gold can be a hell of a journey, and the greatest of all time is willing to put that title on the line every time she walks out there"
By Emily Zemler
Even Beyoncé is impressed with Simone Biles after her record-breaking performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics this week. In a new tribute video posted to NBC, the singer celebrates Biles’ physical and mental prowess.
The clip opens with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter song “Just for Fun,” which features Willie Jones, as she narrates footage of Biles during the Olympic games and in practice. “Let’s talk about power because, really, that’s what this story is about,” Beyoncé says. “Physical power, its beauty, its wonder, the way it never stops amazing you. Then there’s spiritual power, the kind that really matters. The power you can’t see, only sense. The power you need in those moments when life goes a little sideways on you.”
The video includes clips of Biles at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she notably withdrew from the competition. “And, of course, lasting power,” Beyoncé continues. “Only a select few know what it feels like to get to the top and stay there and somehow keep getting better. Simone Biles inspires me, and I’m pretty sure she inspires you, too. Such confidence in her strength, such beauty in her power, such a great lesson in her story. Brilliance, it doesn’t come easy. Gold can be a hell of a journey, and the greatest of all time is willing to put that title on the line every time she walks out there. Take your best shot world. She’s ready for you.”
The video, posted on NBC’s YouTube and social channels, appears to be a promotional ad for the channel airing Biles’ gymnastics all-around final performance, held yesterday in Paris. The competition saw Biles win the coveted gold medal. She previously won all-around gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“This one feels even better than the last,” Biles told Today‘s Hoda Kotb. “I am a lot more mature so I know what my body is capable of.”
Biles is the first woman in U.S. Olympic gymnastics to win two all-around gold medals since Vera Čáslavská in 1968. The win added to her collection as the most-decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast in history with nine medals. And at 27 years old, she is also the oldest woman to secure the all-around title since 30-year-old Maria Gorokhovskaya, of the Soviet Union, in 1952.
The Paris Olympics have marked a major comeback moment for Biles, who pulled out of several individual and team competitions in the Tokyo Olympics after suffering from disorienting “twisties.” Speaking with press during the recent U.S. Olympic trials, she said: “I knew I wasn’t done after the performances in Tokyo. This is definitely our redemption tour. I feel like we all have more to give.”
Biles will compete three more times over the coming days in the individual vault, beam, and floor finals.
Beyoncé previously lent her voice to a video for Team USA that aired following the opening ceremony and introduced the bold competitors representing America this year, including Caeleb Dressel, Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles, Katie Ledecky, and, of course, Biles. That clip featured her song ‘Ya Ya,’ also off Cowboy Carter.