Andy Devaney
When you’ve already rewritten gravity for a living, the next trick is trying to bend the world a little. Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history and a four-time Laureus Sportswoman of the Year, has now added another line to a frankly ridiculous CV: Laureus Ambassador, and frontline voice for girls and young women who see sport as more than just a scoreboard.
A New Chapter in Milan, Not on the Mat but in the Community
Biles’ first outing in her new role wasn’t on a competition floor under blinding lights, but in a community gym in Milan. She visited Polisportiva Garegnano, a Laureus-supported gymnastics and multisport project tucked into the city’s everyday fabric, where the chalk dust hangs in the air and the dreams are very much real.
The project offers safe, inclusive spaces for children and young people – particularly girls – to build confidence, resilience and life skills through sport. On this occasion, the most famous gymnast on the planet walked in, tied up her hair and went to work the old-fashioned way: showing up, listening and staying long enough that it didn’t feel like a photo op.
Biles said: “Laureus has played a meaningful role in my journey for many years, and I am incredibly proud to have been honoured four times as Laureus Sportswoman of the Year, including at last year’s Awards in Madrid, which was an unforgettable night for me. Today I am just as proud to be joining Laureus as an Ambassador. I am honoured to help support Laureus as I share the big idea at the heart of everything Laureus does: that sport has the power to change the world.
“I’ve seen that power in action – how sport can open doors, build confidence and help young people feel seen and supported. I am inspired by Laureus’s focus on the particular needs of girls and young women and the opportunity to visit the girls in Milan was a reminder of why this work matters so much: their energy, their determination, their joy. I’m proud to stand alongside Laureus in creating opportunities for a new generation, especially for young women and girls who deserve every chance to thrive.”
Biles, Owens and a Different Kind of Team Trip
This wasn’t a solo mission. Biles was joined in Italy by her husband, Jonathan Owens of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, as the pair visited Milan ahead of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games. Instead of slipping quietly into a VIP lounge, they made time to step onto the mats with the young athletes at Polisportiva Garegnano.
The seven-time Olympic gold medallist didn’t just wave from the sidelines. She spent time working directly with the kids, offering encouragement, sharing fragments of her journey and turning what might have been “just another training session” into the afternoon they’ll still be talking about in 20 years. For children who have only ever seen Biles through a TV screen or a phone, having her correct a handstand or applaud a landing is the sort of moment that quietly rewires what they think is possible.
Inside Laureus Sport for Good and the Gen26 Legacy
Polisportiva Garegnano is one of more than 300 programmes under the Laureus Sport for Good umbrella, all built on the same simple but stubborn idea: use sport to help young people overcome violence, discrimination and inequality.
This particular project also feeds into Gen26, the legacy initiative of Milano Cortina 2026. While the Games themselves will last a few weeks, Gen26 is designed to ensure the impact lingers long after the flame is extinguished – especially in communities that rarely see Olympic headlines associated with their postcode.
In that context, Simone Biles arriving as a Laureus Ambassador is less about star power and more about alignment. She has lived the extremes of elite sport – the pressure, the scrutiny, the expectation to perform on command – and she has spoken openly about mental health, identity and the right to step away. Her presence alongside Laureus Sport for Good sharpens the message: sport should open doors, not close them.
A Legend Welcoming a Legend
If there is anyone qualified to weigh in on gymnastic greatness, it’s Nadia Comăneci. The five-time Olympic gold medallist and Laureus Academy Member didn’t need long to frame what this appointment means.
Nadia Comăneci, Laureus Academy Member, said: “Simone is an extraordinary athlete and an extraordinary person. She represents the very pinnacle of gymnastics, and beyond her athletic brilliance, she is a powerful force for positive change. Through her courage, authenticity, and commitment to using her platform, she continues to inspire the next generation of girls. She is truly a role model for young people everywhere.
“We are delighted to welcome her to the Laureus movement at a moment when Laureus Sport for Good is strengthening its focus on creating better futures for girls and young women around the world. I cannot imagine a more inspiring athlete to stand beside me in this mission than Simone, and I look forward to seeing the incredible impact she will make with the power of Laureus behind her.”
When one icon of the sport calls another “a powerful force for positive change,” that’s not marketing copy; that’s lived experience talking. Comăneci knows what it means to carry a sport, and she knows what it costs. Her endorsement of Simone Biles in this new role underlines that this is about more than trophies.
From Medals to Meaning: Why This Role Matters
The beauty of this shift is that nothing about Biles’ competitive legacy changes if she never wins another medal. She’s already done enough twisting, flipping and re-writing of gymnastics history to keep the statisticians busy for a lifetime. What Laureus is tapping into now is everything that came after the podiums – the courage, the boundaries, the insistence that athletes are people first.
By joining a global roster of Laureus Ambassadors, Biles lends her voice to a movement that uses sport as a social tool, not just a spectacle. These Ambassadors are tasked with more than showing up for gala photos; they support Laureus Sport for Good programmes on the ground, advocate for change, and put gender equity and access to sport firmly on the agenda.
Her involvement strengthens Laureus’ commitment to championing girls and young women specifically. This isn’t incidental language – it’s a deliberate shift of the spotlight onto those who have historically been left warming the bench when it comes to facilities, funding and attention.
Building Better Futures for Girls and Young Women
For the girls in Milan, the significance of the day will likely sink in slowly. Right now, it’s about the buzz of having Simone Biles correct their form, the laughter when someone wobbles on a beam, the sense that the sport they love might carry them somewhere new.
For Laureus, this is a statement of intent. As Laureus Sport for Good sharpens its focus on the needs of girls and young women, having someone who has lived every possible version of the elite athlete experience sends a powerful message: you belong here, and your story matters, whether or not it comes with medals attached.
Simone Biles joins a global roster of Laureus Ambassadors – athletes who use their voice, platform and passion to support Laureus Sport for Good. Her involvement further strengthens Laureus’ work to champion gender equity and inspire new generations of young women and girls.
In a world where sporting headlines often revolve around contracts and controversy, the sight of the greatest gymnast of all time kneeling beside a young girl in a Milan gym, talking quietly about confidence and courage, might just be the most important routine Simone Biles performs from here on out.
