As 2021 comes to an end,Simone Bilesisn’t dwelling on the year that could have been: “I fought hard. I survived.”
The superstar Olympic gymnast — who has won an impressive seven medals throughout her storied career — is one ofPEOPLE’s 2021 People of the Yearalongside Dolly Parton, Sandra Oh, and America’s teachers.
For more on PEOPLE’s 2021 People of the Year issue and other top stories, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.
Her candor has earned her praise from athletes across the sports world,like Michael Phelps.
“That’s probably one of the first times in my career where I felt courageous and I felt like I had got to speak up for myself,” she tells PEOPLE. Adds Biles, 24, “[I] definitely can walk away from Tokyo, feeling courage, feeling at ease. And I did everything I could.”
Phylicia J.L. Munn
Obviously, to “train for five years and then get out there and have something like that happen” wasn’t easy. Accepting that, since, has “been a rollercoaster of emotions.”
RELATED PHOTOS:‘I Don’t Have to Be Fine’: Everything Simone Biles Has Said About Mental Health
And prioritizing herself didn’t go unnoticed. As Biles spent the past few months performing in her Gold Across America gymnastics tour, fan interactions had changed. Biles says she used to get compliments on her Olympic medals, but now, it’s “thank you"s for elevating the mental wellness conversation.
“It really showed me a different side of myself and how people see me, not just an athlete but as a human, and that was really different for me.”
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This entire year, and her experiences in Japan, have been humbling, Biles says. “Now, internally, I know who I am and what I want to do.”
As Biles approaches the next phase of her life, she says she’s okay with being “lost right now.”
“I do have things that I’m really interested in with working foster care kids and the foster care community. That’s very heartfelt to me and the journey’s not over for me yet.”
Read more from our People of the Year in the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
source: people.com
