Last month, Simone Biles delivered an epic floor routine at the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials—complete with Taylor Swift-inspired choreography and a stunning triple-double. And now, at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the proud Swiftie is paying yet another subtle tribute to the pop star.
In case you missed it, the 27-year-old athlete executed a near-flawless routine on the uneven bars during the qualifying round for the women’s team gymnastics, despite suffering a minor calf injury during her warmups. But as much as I admired her resilience and impressive skills, there was something else that caught my eye after she completed her final event.
Per usual, the proud athlete waved to the crowds and embraced fellow teammates on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team, but she also made a familiar heart-hand gesture—one that’s become quite common for Swift and her loyal fans.
The classic hand-heart gesture was popularized by Swift in 2011, when she first tested it out with a live audience at one of her first shows. She told the New York Times, “I was an unknown act playing shows night after night, and I was constantly trying out all kinds of different moves to try and get a response from the audience.”
Fortunately, showing the heart symbol prompted fans to copy the gesture. And now, more than a decade later, it’s being done by major athletes, musicians and even royals, including Kate Middleton.
Biles’s subtle nod to Swift comes as no surprise, given how the pair has publicly supported one another in the past. In fact, this past June, Swift praised Biles’s impressive floor routine, which was set to her song, “…Ready For It?” She tweeted, “Watched this so many times and still unready. She’s ready for it tho”
Considering Biles’s spot-on performances so far, I couldn’t agree more. She delivered a solid performance on the balance beam, which earned her a 14.733. Then, she put on quite the show for her dazzling floor exercise (14.666), followed by her trademark Yurchenko double pike on the vault (15.300). Finally, she stole the show with her spectacular routine on the uneven bars, scoring 14.433 and pushing her team to the lead during qualifications.
Biles and her team are set to compete once again on Tuesday, July 30. And something tells me this won’t be the last time I see Biles pulling a Taylor Swift.
News
Taylor Swift Quietly Donates Hundreds of Thousands of Meals to U.S. Food Banks
In a world where celebrity acts of kindness often come with grand gestures and media attention, Taylor Swift has chosen a different path. Since last March, the global superstar has reportedly been consistently supporting U.S. food banks, offering the equivalent…
Travis Kelce reacts to Taylor Swift’s VMAs 2024 speech thanking ‘magic’ boyfriend
Travis Kelce shared a subtle sign of support for his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, after she thanked him at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday. The Kansas City Chiefs “liked” an Instagram video the network posted of the “Blank…
Shocking Photo Shows Las Vegas Aces Player Grabbing Caitlin Clark By The Throat And Ripping Her To The Floor During Brutal Foul In The Paint H
Caitlin Clark (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) The spotlight on Caitlin Clark during her rookie season may be brighter than ever on a WNBA player. The former Iowa Hawkeyes superstar is finding out the hard way that things are not…
Caitlin Clark told her BFF Kate Martin to ‘come guard me’ before Fever vs. Aces
Sep 11, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Kate Martin (20) and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22), both former Iowa Hawkeyes, reunite Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas…
Where to watch Las Vegas Aces vs Indiana Fever? Date, time, streaming options, and more
The Indiana Fever hosts the two-time defending champions Las Vegas Aces for the final time this 2024 WNBA season. Both teams met earlier this week where the Aces trounced Caitlin Clark and Co. 86-75 in a game that saw A’ja…
Caitlin Clark’s Record-Breaking Performance Secures Rookie of the Year, Sparking Racial Bias Debate
Caitlin Clark has just been named WNBA Rookie of the Year following an impressive performance. The debate over the award has often centered on whether to prioritize rebounds and double-doubles or points and assists, as both Clark and Angel Reese…
End of content
No more pages to load