Summary
Simone Biles has made history with an incredible comeback after a two-year hiatus, cementing her GOAT status by becoming the most decorated gymnast of all time. Biles competed in the World Artistic Gymnastic Championships in Belgium where she took home four gold medals bringing her to a total of 37. Geoff Bennett discussed Biles' return to competition with Christine Brennan of USA Today.
For a transcript to read alongside as you watch the video, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Warm up questions
- Who is Simone Biles, and what is her background?
- Where and when did Biles cement her legacy as the greatest ever gymnast, according to this story?
- What are some of Biles' accomplishments that make her stand out as an exceptional gymnast?
- Why did Biles step away from international competition for two years?
- How has Biles overcome adversity to achieve her current level of success?
Focus questions
According to this story, Biles took time off to address mental health concerns after 2021. What were some of the active steps Biles took to come back to gymnastics? How did some of those steps help her perform at her best? What approaches would you consider taking in your own life to keep mentally at your strongest?
Media literacy: Examine the photo below of Biles celebrating with her teammates. Then discuss as a class:
- What details do you notice about this photo?
- What mood or idea do you think the photographer was trying to capture with the image?
- Why do you think this photo over others was chosen by news outlets to run with stories of the championship performance?
Gymnastics - 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships - Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium - October 4, 2023 Gold medallist Simone Biles of the U.S. and teammates celebrate winning the women's team final REUTERS/Yves Herman
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
For More
What students can do:
Check out this interview from Student Reporting Labs' podcast on teen mental health, 'On Our Minds.' In the interview, Simone Biles teammate Jordan Chiles discusses her own approach to mental health even during the stress of intense competition.
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