Dear Simone Biles,
While my daughter, Lily, would love to write to you herself, at just five years old, she is still mastering the alphabet. As you navigate the realities of being one of the most recognizable figures in the world, I wanted to take a moment to express what your influence means to one little girl.
Lily was born prematurely at just 23 weeks, weighing a little over a pound. Her journey began in a neonatal intensive care unit where she spent an arduous 196 days. The doctors were uncertain about her survival or whether she would ever walk. Despite her fragile beginnings, she exhibited incredible strength from the very start, fighting through challenges that were unimaginable.
At just two years old, she started gymnastics, as she, like you, simply couldn’t sit still. With a unique blend of extraordinary upper body strength and the characteristic clumsiness of a preschooler, she began to shine. Whether she was walking on her hands or leaping off furniture, she approached each activity with enthusiasm, saying, “Watch, you might be mad, but this might be amazing.”
Being small for her age has its challenges. “When will I be big?” she often asks in her sweet voice. Unfortunately, experts predict she may always be petite, perhaps never reaching five feet in height. I’ve witnessed her classmates label her a baby and claim she’s too small to join in their games. Yet, her bravery is inspiring. On one occasion, she climbed to the top of a playground tree and called out to the bigger kids below, “You can climb like this when you’re big like me.” While I felt immense pride in that moment, I also saw the tears in her eyes on nights when she wished to grow taller.
Discovering your videos on YouTube changed everything for her. “Is Simone Biles little like me?” Lily asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Yes,” I replied, “she’s just like you.” After a moment of reflection, she added, “She is better than me at gymnastics,” and surprisingly concluded, “That is okay.”
Since then, we’ve made it a nightly ritual to watch the “Best Girl in The World.” We discuss hard work, practice, confidence, and inner strength. The night you secured your gold medal with a flawless floor routine, Lily leaped off the couch, exclaiming in delight.
You have empowered her to confront the harsh judgments of her peers, helping her envision her potential. Your presence on screen brought her to life, and she said, “She is looking at me. Does she see me?” I couldn’t bring myself to tell her it was just television.
Lily even drew a picture of you, hoping I could somehow deliver it through the screen. Here it is, accompanied by our heartfelt gratitude.
Thank you for being a beacon of hope and inspiration to so many young girls, including my Lily.
Warm regards,
Emma Thompson