Dear Simone Biles,
While my daughter would love to pen her own letter, she’s just 5 years old and still mastering her letters. As you embark on your journey as one of the most celebrated figures in the world, I wanted to take a moment to express the profound impact you’ve had on one little girl.
Mia was born prematurely at just 23 weeks, weighing a little over a pound. She spent nearly 200 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, defying odds that suggested she might not survive or ever walk. Despite her fragile beginnings, Mia demonstrated incredible resilience, fighting through isolation and pain, revealing her indomitable spirit even when all she knew were the harsh realities of her early life.
At two years old, Mia took up gymnastics, a pursuit born from her endless energy and a desire to move. Though she possesses remarkable strength for her size, she also navigates the clumsiness typical of preschoolers. She walks on her hands, leaps from surfaces, and embraces every fall with laughter and determination, often declaring, “Watch this! It might be amazing!”
Her petite stature is a significant concern at her age. “When will I be big?” she often asks. The reality, according to medical experts, is that she may always be small, with height predictions suggesting she won’t reach five feet.
I’ve witnessed her face challenges at school, where some children label her a baby or insist that she’s too tiny to play with them. She strives to be courageous, once surprising everyone by climbing to the top of a playground tree, looking down at her taller peers and proclaiming, “You can do this when you’re big like me.” That day filled me with pride, but her confidence sometimes wavers, and she cries at night wishing to grow.
Everything changed when we discovered your incredible performances online. Mia began to see herself reflected in your journey. “Is Simone Biles little like me?” she asked, and when I affirmed her connection, she mused, “She’s better than me at gymnastics.” Yet, rather than feeling disheartened, she accepted that reality with grace.
Now, each evening is spent watching highlights of “The Best Gymnast in the World.” Your Olympics routines mesmerized her, and when you secured the gold medal, Mia leaped off the couch, joyfully screaming in celebration.
You’ve empowered her to combat the judgments of her peers, helping her recognize her own potential and strength. When you smiled on screen, she exclaimed, “She’s looking at me! Does she see me?” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that it was just a broadcast.
Mia even drew a picture of you, believing I could somehow deliver it through the screen.
She sends her love and appreciation through this art, and I join her in expressing our heartfelt thanks.
With all our love,
LISA SMITH, AGE 5