A review of ‘Simone Biles Rising,’ episodes 3 and 4 — USA Gymnastics tricked us good on Halloween

I said I wanted to review the final two episodes of Simone Biles Rising (you’ll need a subscription to watch), which premiered last Friday on Netflix. The first two episodes of the four-part series directed by Katie Walsh came out just before the Olympics, in July. 

The first two episodes centered on Biles’ life since the Tokyo Olympics, where she developed the twisties and withdrew from all but one event, the beam final. We see her prioritize her mental health and meet and marry her husband, Jonathan Owens. We see them plan their dream house in Houston. 

The third and fourth episodes take place in Paris. One question I had when I sat down to watch was how the episodes would keep my attention when I knew how Biles’ Paris story ended — that it was, in fact, the redemption she wanted after her Tokyo experience. If you’re wondering the same thing, know that there’s plenty to entertain here, but also plenty of drama surrounding even the events we know best. 

For instance, we find out that Biles was more injured heading into the team final than we knew, with both an existing knee injury and a calf injury she incurred in qualifications. It seemed to me that the calf was an injury that could go either way — and that perhaps a Biles who had triumphed as expected in Tokyo might have babied a bit more, even relaxing her competition schedule. But the Biles who needed that redemption did not. What impressed me here is that Walsh did not frame this moment as heroic; no Kerri Strug overtones here. It is very much treated like a work problem. Nobody panics. Biles talks to a doctor; she gets assessed; she decides to continue competing. 

It was only after I finished watching did I realize that all the drama in this situation was in my own head. And, I knew the ending! So that answered my big question about these episodes quite neatly. 

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We often think of athletes, particularly gymnasts, as living very controlled lives. Biles has had an additional level of control imposed on her because of her fame. We see that she cannot go out in public without being recognized, and is even stopped in the Olympic Village by fellow athletes who want time with her. The documentary shows that phenomenon, but also counters it with the people she is able to surround herself with in Paris. In Tokyo, she was alone, and the isolation contributed to her issues there. In Paris, she is surrounded by family, and she is clearly delighted to have that buffer between herself and her fame. The banter between her and Owens shows clearly that the two complement each other. Her family members are the people around whom she can be herself, and that freedom also enables her to be herself in competition and triumph there. Walsh does a terrific job of letting us see how Biles’ family takes the pressure off of her and allows her either to disappear completely into her athlete self, or completely into her off-duty self, with no need to mask for fans or acquaintances. 

So, even if you think you know what happens, I think you’ll still be surprised. Walsh has a gift as a director, and Biles is an incredible subject. 

Other gym news

GymCastic, as I did, also discusses the final two episodes of Netflix’s Simone Biles Rising. 

College Gym News gives us seven teams that are rebuilding and six that could make comebacks in 2025. We also get a recruiting update. 

CGN also questioned the number of smaller-scale podium NCAA meets cropping up on schedules for 2025. 

Leanne Wong is headed to Swiss Cup alongside Fuzzy Benas. 

Wendy Carey, the former assistant coach at Talladega, will be a graduate assistant coach at Ball State this year. 

Ellie Black dressed up as Stephen Nedoroscik and, with the members of Team USA on the G.O.A.T. tour,  re-enacted the U.S. men’s gymnastics team’s celebration after their Olympic bronze. 

Social media post of the week

I know Halloween is over, but this was the best jump scare of the week, bar none. 

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