INDIANAPOLIS — American gymnasts won 10 medals at the Paris Olympics, including three golds and the first team medal for the men in 16 years.
Following the Olympics, the athletes are now on the nationwide "Gold Over America" tour, which will stop at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis at the end of the month.
The show stars Simone Biles, who recently spoke with 13News anchor Anne Marie Tiernon about the tour, her impact on mental health and what she thinks of Indianapolis being home to a new training and wellness center for USA Gymnastics.
Biles said the "Gold Over America" performance, which includes Team USA stars Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Hezley Rivera, Paul Judy, Brody Malone, Frederick Richard and more, is a high-energy pop concert style show.
"It's an honor competing for your country and to win a medal, but this just touches the kids so differently," Biles said. "So I love being able to get out here and inspire them and for them to look at, like, 'One day I could be just like them, performing across America."
Biles, the undisputed "GOAT" of gymnastics is all grown up since we first met up with her in her Houston-area home before the Rio Olympics in 2016.
She's now married and has global superstar status.
"Yeah, I think it still shocks me, just because I am still so involved in the sport. One day, I think it'll hit a little bit differently whenever I walk away from the sport, but I do understand the impact that I have, not just with the kids, but the adults that are watching our sport and keeping along. But it is. It's still wild to me," Biles said.
Some of the impact was unexpected after Biles withdrew from the competition at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, citing the "twisties" and a focus on her mental health.
A recent survey reports 60% of American women say Biles inspired them to prioritize their mental well-being.
"I actually read that stat yesterday and I was just feeling so grateful," she said.
And she's open to keeping the conversation going.
"As long as I'm staying authentic to who I am, and keep being open, raw and vulnerable, then that's what I'm going to do, and share my platforms so that people get to know just the Simone side of the Simone Biles," she said.
Part of that is being a daughter. One of Biles' new partnerships is with Eli Lilly, highlighting that relationship, as she appears in a commercial for a diabetes drug with her mom, Nellie.
Biles knows Indy. She surprised Lilly team members in Late August and has cheered for the Indiana Fever. Plus, USA Gymnastics is headquartered in Indianapolis, which is bidding for the organization's new training and wellness center.
So is she pulling for the Circle City?
"As long as it's a safe and healthy environment for all of gymnastics to train in, especially our national team members, then that's it," Biles said. "Everyone kind of travels anyway. You're kind of just lucky if it happens to be close to your town or whatever. So obviously, we always are going to do what we have to do."
The "Gold Over America" tour visits Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Oct. 29.
You can watch Anne Marie's extended conversation with Simone Biles here: