“Documentaries like Simone Biles Rising form a crucial part of our strategy to deepen the connection between fans and the Olympic Movement,” said Jérôme Parmentier, Vice-President of Media Rights and Content Partnerships at the IOC. His words, spoken last year, echoed with purpose as the four-part series garnered critical acclaim—winning Best Sports Documentary and Best Limited Documentary Series at the 9th Annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards. The gala event, held in New York City in November, celebrated not just storytelling but the power of sport to inspire.
Well, according to Parmentier, the documentary’s power lies in how it spreads the core values of the Olympic Movement—resilience, courage, and human excellence—far beyond the stadiums and screens. Yiannis Exarchos, Executive Director of Olympic Channel Services, shared a similar sentiment.
Mr. Exarchos emphasized the documentary’s ability to ‘inspire millions and exemplify the transformative power of sport.’ And clearly, the impact continued to ripple. Earlier this year, Simone Biles Rising was again honored—this time by the Producers Guild of America, which named it Outstanding Sports Program. But what makes this documentary resonate so deeply?
It’s the raw honesty. Simone Biles Rising charts the gymnast’s journey before, during, and after the Paris Olympics—not as a flawless icon, but as a human being navigating pressure, trauma, triumph, and growth. It’s Simone, unfiltered. For the uninitiated, produced by Religion of Sports in association with Olympic Channel Services, the series premiered in July 2024, ahead of the Paris Olympic Game and 10 months after its release, in an email to The Hollywood Reporter, Biles revealed why she agreed to such a personal project. “Regardless of the outcome, I wanted to document this part of my journey — not just for the world but for myself and my family so I could look back on the experience without regret,” she wrote. “Together with the amazing crew led by Katie Walsh, I said if we’re going to do this, we’re going all in. I didn’t want to leave anything on the table.” That word—anything—carries a legacy.
Image credit: Simone Biles/Instagram
Back in 2021, director Katie Walsh and her team had already chronicled Biles in the Simone vs Herself docuseries on Facebook Watch. At the time, the expectation was to capture a fairytale ending: Simone dominating the Tokyo Games before retiring. But what unfolded was far more complex. Her public withdrawal due to the twisties and the wave of backlash that followed reshaped the narrative. Simone Biles Rising became her response—not just to critics, but to herself. “Going into the Paris Olympic Games, I felt it was the right time to share my story in a deeper, more vulnerable way,” the 11-time Olympic medalist wrote to The Hollywood Reporter. And it shows.
As the most decorated gymnast in history, Biles could have kept the cameras at bay. Instead, she invited them in. The result is a documentary that doesn’t just follow an athlete: it follows a woman reclaiming her power. And this might just be the beginning. With Religion of Sports, Simone has more projects in the pipeline—signaling that her voice, much like her legacy, is only getting stronger.
With ROS, Simone Biles will try out a new role
In February, Variety spotlighted a pivotal moment in Simone Biles’ post-competition journey: a press release from Religion of Sports (ROS) announced her expanded role—not just as a subject of stories, but as a storyteller and creator in her own right.
According to the release, Simone is embarking on what ROS calls “a natural evolution of Biles’ entrepreneurial and storytelling journey, expanding her influence beyond her competitive career in the gym—regardless of whether she competes again.” Her new role will see her producing and directing projects, not just about herself, but for a new generation of athletes—particularly women whose voices have been overlooked. Whether or not she returns to the competitive floor, Simone’s influence is set to soar far beyond the gym. And she’ll have autonomy. Real decision-making power.
Simone Biles will take the lead in identifying and uplifting other female athletes whose stories deserve to be heard—especially from Black and brown communities. “I think there are really critical conversations that need to be heard around sports, through mental health and athletes — just even in the Black and brown community.” she told Variety. For Simone, this is about more than media. It’s about legacy. It’s about creating space.
ROS CEO Ameeth Sankaran hinted that Simone’s role may grow even further in the months ahead, with additional responsibilities unfolding as her creative vision takes shape. While exact details remain under wraps, one thing is clear: Biles is no longer just a subject of sport documentaries—she’s becoming a force behind the camera, crafting stories with intention and impact. So, does this new chapter mark the end of Simone Biles’ gymnastics career?
NY: Zeta Live 2024 Simone Biles attending Zeta Live 2024 at Center415 in New York, NY on September 26, 2024. New York Center415 NY USA NOxUSExINxGERMANY PUBLICATIONxINxALGxARGxAUTxBRNxBRAxCANxCHIxCHNxCOLxECUxEGYxGRExINDxIRIxIRQxISRxJORxKUWxLIBxLBAxMLTxMEXxMARxOMAxPERxQATxKSAxSUIxSYRxTUNxTURxUAExUKxVENxYEMxONLY Copyright: xSipaxUSAx Editorial use only sipausa_56220591
The 28-year-old hasn’t said. And maybe she doesn’t have to—not yet. For now, what matters is that Simone Biles is no longer waiting for others to tell her story. She’s taking the pen. And with ROS behind her, she’s building a platform where other athletes—especially women of color—can do the same. This isn’t a goodbye. It’s a beginning.
The post ‘We’re Going All In’: Simone Biles Finally Reveals Why She Opened Up Her Life to the Cameras appeared first on EssentiallySports.