Eleven.
If you’re looking for the short answer, that’s it. Simone Biles has 11 Olympic medals. But honestly, just saying a number feels like a massive undersell. It’s like saying the Grand Canyon is "kind of a big hole."
Biles isn't just winning; she is rewriting what we think the human body can actually do at age 27. Most gymnasts are considered "old" by 20. In Paris, Simone was out there competing against teenagers and essentially making it look like a casual Sunday at the park.
The Breakdown: What’s in the Trophy Case?
Let's look at the hardware. You’ve probably seen the photos of her biting the gold, but the distribution across her three Olympic appearances—Rio, Tokyo, and Paris—tells a wild story of dominance, struggle, and then total redemption.
The Medal Count as of 2026:
- Gold: 7
- Silver: 2
- Bronze: 2
In Rio 2016, she was basically a cheat code. She took home four golds (Team, All-Around, Vault, and Floor) and a bronze on the Beam. People expected her to sweep everything in Tokyo 2020, but that’s where things got human. She dealt with "the twisties"—a terrifying mental block where you lose track of where the ground is while spinning in mid-air. She withdrew from most events for her own safety, which was a huge moment for mental health in sports. Even so, she still walked away from Tokyo with a silver (Team) and a bronze (Beam).
Then came Paris 2024. The "Redemption Tour."
She didn't just show up; she dominated. She grabbed three more golds (Team, All-Around, and Vault) and a silver on the Floor. That silver on Floor was actually a bit of a surprise because she’s usually untouchable there, but Rebeca Andrade of Brazil put up a monster routine. Seeing them celebrate together on the podium was easily one of the best moments of the Games.
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Is She the Most Decorated Ever?
It depends on how you define "ever."
If we’re talking about American gymnasts, yes. Hands down. She passed Shannon Miller’s record of seven medals during the Paris Games.
But if you look at the entire world history of the Olympics, she’s tied for second place among women with Věra Čáslavská. The top spot is still held by Larisa Latynina, who competed for the Soviet Union back in the 50s and 60s and has 18 medals.
Why the "Total Medal" Count is Tricky
The gymnastics world often talks about two different numbers: Olympic medals and "Major Championship" medals.
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If you combine her Olympic count with her World Championship medals, the number jumps to a staggering 41. She has 30 World Championship medals. To put that in perspective, most elite gymnasts are lucky to go to one or two World Championships. Simone has been going for over a decade and winning almost every time she steps on the mat.
What People Often Get Wrong About the Count
A common misconception is that she "failed" in Tokyo because she didn't win five golds.
That’s wild.
She won a silver and a bronze while literally being unable to tell left from right in the air. That’s actually more impressive than winning gold when you’re feeling 100%.
Another thing? People forget she’s the oldest American woman to win an Olympic gymnastics gold in 74 years. At 27, she's defying the physics of aging in a sport that usually chews up athletes by their late teens.
The Moves Named After Her
Part of why she has so many medals is that she does things nobody else dares to try. As of now, she has five different skills named after her in the "Code of Points."
- The Biles (Vault): A Yurchenko half-on with a layout front double full.
- The Biles II (Vault): The Yurchenko double pike. This thing is terrifying. It's a move usually only men do because it requires so much raw power.
- The Biles (Balance Beam): A double-twisting double-tucked back salto dismount.
- The Biles (Floor): A double layout with a half twist.
- The Biles II (Floor): A triple-twisting double-tucked back salto.
When you have moves named after you, you aren't just competing against other people. You're competing against the sport itself.
Will the Count Go Up in 2028?
L.A. 2028 is the big question.
Simone hasn't officially retired. She's joked about it, saying "never say never." If she competes in Los Angeles, she’d be 31. That is unheard of for a female gymnast at the Olympic level. But then again, everything Simone does is unheard of.
If she stays healthy and keeps her head in the right space, she could easily add two or three more to that 11-medal total. She doesn't need them for her legacy—she’s already the G.O.A.T.—but at this point, she seems to be doing it just to see how far she can push the envelope.
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Actionable Takeaways for Following Simone's Career
If you're tracking her stats or just want to appreciate the greatness, here is what you should keep an eye on:
- Watch the World Championships: If she enters a World Championship before 2028, she will likely pad her "most decorated" total even further.
- Check the Difficulty Scores: Look at her "D-score" during competitions. It's usually so much higher than everyone else's that she can fall and still win.
- Follow Her Mental Health Advocacy: Her impact on sports isn't just about the 11 medals; it's about the fact that she prioritized her brain over a podium, which changed the game for every athlete who followed her.
The number is 11 for now. But with Simone Biles, the math is always subject to change.