Simone Biles Named SI’s Sportsperson of 2024; Travis Hunter Named Breakout Star

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January 2, 2025

By Adam Wells, Bleacher Report

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.

[…]

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.

Keep reading to learn why Biles isn’t ready to think about her legacy in the sport.

Biles led her team at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

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