Simone Biles, the standout gymnastics star, is often celebrated as the top female Olympic athlete of our time. Her incredible achievements in gymnastics started when she was just six years old, and she’s been a dominant force in the sport ever since. But did she manage to balance her impressive gymnastics career with earning a college degree?
Born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, Simone began her gymnastics journey as a young child. By 2012, she switched from regular school to homeschooling so she could train more hours each week—up to 32 hours—pursuing her passion full-time.
Where did Simone Biles go to college?
During her high school years, Biles was juggling her education with demanding gymnastics training. As she started winning major titles at the World Championships, she faced a tough choice: go to college or focus solely on gymnastics.
Biles was offered a full scholarship to UCLA, a top university known for its strong gymnastics program. However, she decided to prioritize her Olympic dreams. In 2016, her hard work paid off when she won gold at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Even though Biles declined UCLA’s offer, she didn’t give up on education. Instead, she chose to study online at the University of the People (UoPeople), which offers free, accredited courses. This option gave her the flexibility to study while continuing her intense training.
In 2018, Biles began pursuing a degree in business administration through UoPeople. This online education allowed her to keep up with her gymnastics career while working towards a college degree. Now 27, Biles continues to shine in her sport with seven Olympic medals and many other accolades.
