In addition to being a seven-time Olympic medalist, Simone Biles is also a two-time SI Swimsuit model. The athlete, who officially became the most decorated gymnast of all time last month, first posed for the magazine in 2017, when she traveled to Houston for her feature with photographer James Macari.
The 26-year-old returned to the fold two years later, and this time, her work took her to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she worked with visual artist Walter Chin. The features served as an opportunity for Biles to demonstrate her athletic prowess in front of the lens—and in both features, her resulting photographs were graceful and absolutely stunning.
While her nerves didn’t translate in the pictures either time, Biles confessed to us that she was actually more nervous for the opportunity the second time around.
“It was actually scarier the second time, but once I was on set and shooting I had such a blast,” she stated. “It’s an honor to be featured in the SI Swimsuit edition and to be a part of this group who is inspiring women and showing girls that all body types are beautiful.”
While traveling to a tropical location outside of the U.S. for her sophomore photoshoot with SI Swimsuit, Biles admitted that despite the nerves, she felt more comfortable embracing her femininity during her second brand feature.
“I… was able to shoot on a beach, which is one of my favorite places to be,” she shared. “Also, since I’m a bit older this time around, I felt more confident in my body during the shoot.”
Below are just a few of our favorite pics from her photoshoot in Mexico, in which Biles’s confidence is abundantly apparent.
The New York Jets made the decision to waive running back Michael Carter ahead of Week 11 following another loss for the team. It hasn’t been the season they expected it to be, especially after Aaron Rodgers went down on the very first offensive series of the year.
With Carter hitting waivers, it didn’t take long for him to find a new home.
The Arizona Cardinals were awarded the running back on waivers Wednesday morning as he heads out to the desert to his new team. This could be a better situation for Carter who was buried on the Jets’ depth chart and was.
Germany’s Alica Schmidt has continued to soar in popularity across the globe, catching the attention of fans worldwide. She was recently back on the track during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary, adding to her reign near the top of the most photographed athletes.
When she posed for the 2012 SI Swimsuit Issue, competitive swimmer Natalie Coughlin was in her element. She participated in a unique bodypaint photoshoot that allowed her to model a beautiful painted-on blue monokini swimsuit, courtesy of makeup artist Joanne Gair.
The 41-year-old California native is a 12-time Olympic medalist for the U.S. women’s swimming team, having participated in three different Olympic games. She first competed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where she took home five medals, before earning six more in Beijing in 2008. Her 12th medal, a bronze, was acquired during the London Olympics in 2012, the same year she posed for the annual issue.
A pool player has forfeited her chance to win a top national title in protest at the sport allowing a transgender woman to compete against natal females.
Lynne Pinches told Telegraph Sport she has turned down an invitation to turn full-time professional amid her despair at a “U-turn” in international rules.
On Saturday, Pinches was cheered by spectators as she packed up her cue and refused to play as the final of the Ladies Champions of Champions got under way. Her opponent, Harriet Haynes, reacted with bemusement before later picking up the trophy by default.
