“Feel like she’s my second mom” – When Simone Biles opened up about her relationship with former…Read More

“Feel like she’s my second mom” – When Simone Biles opened up about her relationship with former coach Aimee Boorman.

Simone Biles made her Olympics debut with some brilliant performances at the Rio Olympics, winning four gold medals and a bronze medal. This was also the year when she was coached for the last time by Aimee Boorman, who transformed her into the legend that she is today.

In a conversation with Texas Monthly ahead of the Rio Olympics 2016, Biles and Boorman talked at length about their relationship as student and mentor. Boorman talked about the time when she first mentored Biles:

“Simone was eight when I started coaching her,” Boorman said. “She was a little child, very immature.”

Boorman was impressed by the raw talent Biles possessed and decided to polish her skills. During Biles’ early years, her adoptive parents weren’t at home a lot due to their respective commitments. As a result, Boorman also took on the role of a guardian.

“She’s known me forever, so I feel like she’s my second mom,” Simone Biles said. “I’ve stayed at her house when my parents were out of town, and I used to see her more than my parents.”

Aimee Boorman coached Simone Biles from 2005 to 2016 when she excelled at the Rio Olympics. A few months later, Boorman parted ways with the American gymnast, as she joined Evo Athletics in Sarasota as the executive director.

Simone Biles on breaking down in front of Aimee BoormanWhen Simone Biles broke down in front of Aimee Boorman

Simone Biles was tutored by Aimee Boorman during her early rise to fame. However, there was also a time when Biles talked about feeling neglected, and one day, broke down in front of her mentor.

Biles opened up about this moment in her autobiography ‘Courage to Soar’, which was published in 2016. The then 19-year-old gymnast revealed that due to her paperwork and responsibilities in 2014, Boorman couldn’t tend to Biles as frequently as she did earlier. One day, the gymnast burst out, and asked Boorman:

“You never coach me anymore! You’re always in the office!??”

Boorman was taken aback but soon realized that Biles needed her attention more and hence started devoting more time to her. When Boorman took leave of Biles in 2016, she mentioned that it was a tough decision. In her words

“We were both sad, but [Simone] understands that life moves on and she knows that if she plans to continue in gymnastics? I will always be willing to coach her, I will be there as a mentor.”

After Aimee Boorman left for Florida, Cecile Landi took charge of mentoring Biles. She joined the World Champions Centre (owned by Biles’ adoptive parents) in 2017 and mentored her until the Paris Olympics 2024, where the American gymnast clinched three Olympic gold medals and a silver medal.