Simone Biles hasn't won an Olympic medal — but she's already been hailed as the best gymnast in the world. She and fellow American Aly Raisman are heading to the all-around competition after some stellar performances on Sunday, nudging out their teammate Gabby Douglas.
Biles, 19, has been tearing up the gymnastics world since she emerged onto the international competition circuit in 2013. Now, with the Rio games underway, Biles is heavily favored for the all-around gold.
The 4' 8" gymnast from Texas even has a moved named after her on the floor routine called "The Biles"— a double half layout with a full twist, jumping straight into a split immediately after landing:
Here's the story of her rise to top:
Biles got her start at age 6, when she went to a gymnastics center on a daycare field trip and started imitating the gymnasts training there.
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The coach noticed her talent and sent Biles home with a letter, asking her parents to let their daughter try a gymnastics class.
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A decade later, she started racking up medals at international competitions. By the time she was 17, media outlets were declaring her the best gymnast in the world.
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