After a historic 2024 that saw her become the most-decorated United States gymnast in Olympic history, Simone Biles has added another accolade to her legendary career by being named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year.
SI announced Biles as the recipient of the honor on Thursday. Colorado football star Travis Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, was named Breakout Star of the Year.
Other honorees include Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo receiving the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award and NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman being named the inaugural Innovator of the Year winner.
Biles is the first Olympian to be recognized as Sportsperson of the Year since 2012 when LeBron James led the U.S. men's basketball team gold at the London Games in the same year he also won the NBA MVP award, Finals and Finals MVP.
The 2024 Games saw Biles retake her crown as the world's greatest active gymnast. She won four overall medals, including gold in the team competition, individual all-around and vault.
Biles' 11 career medals and seven gold medals are tied with Czechoslovakia's Věra Čáslavská for the second-most ever by a female gymnast.
Despite all of her accomplishments, Biles admitted she's not ready to think about her legacy in the sport:
"I don't think the reality has set in of what I've exactly done in the sport. I can see it, and I hear it from people, and I see a glimpse of it, but the full magnitude I don't think I've realized just yet. I don't think I'll realize 'til maybe I retire and look back in a couple years like, Damn, she was good. Because I can see that, but I do it every day. So for me, it's normal."
As for what's next, Biles hasn't decided about possibly competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
"If you go back, you'll be greedy. Those are the consequences," she said about the possibility of a fourth Olympic appearance. "But that's also your decision to decide. What sacrifices would be made if I go back now? When you're younger, it's like, prom, college. Now it's like, starting a family, being away from my husband. What's really worth it?"
Biles will be honored at the Sportsperson of the Year awards ceremony on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas.
Joining Biles as one of the big winners from 2024 is Hunter. The Buffaloes two-way superstar turned in one of the best individual seasons by a player in college football history. He caught 92 passes for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver, along with 11 pass breakups and four interceptions as a cornerback.
Hunter's 1,356 snaps played were 84 percent of Colorado's total snaps and 434 more than any other FBS player this season. His stellar showing catapulted him to become the second Heisman winner in Colorado history, joining Rashaan Salaam in 1994.
The Buffaloes finished the regular season with a 9-3 record. It was the program's first time winning at least nine games since 2016 (10-4). Hunter has stated his intention to declare for the 2025 NFL draft, when he will almost certainly be one of the top players selected.
Biles, Hunter, Mutombo and Berman will all be honored at the Sportsperson of the Year awards ceremony on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas.
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