Jason Kelce boldy admitted his doubts about Simone Biles, 27, competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics during the Wednesday, August 28 episode of his New Heights podcast.
The 36-year-old retired Eagles center was talking about watching the gymnasts compete in person in Paris. He told his brother Travis Kelce, "We watched like every [Team USA gymnastics] girl go and do the floor routine and Simone Biles was the last person and I'm like, you know she's getting older. She's a little bit... we'll see how she looks."
Travis, 34, immediately cut in, "There's no way you really thought this." However, Jason doubled down, explaining, "I did think that, because gymnasts don't... when you look at the age of gymnasts, they're usually not in their mid 20s to late 20s. They're usually young."
"I don't know why, I just automatically assumed she's the anomaly," the Kansas City Chiefs tight end responded, and Jason had to give it to him, quipping, "And you would be right." One of the many things Biles is known for is her ability to soar 12 feet in the air while doing her floor routine.
"She is the anomaly because she jumped higher than everybody and it wasn't even close," Jason gushed, admitting he had been wrong. "Like, you watch all these people do the floor routine, then it's Simone's at the end, and within the first three seconds you're like, 'Oh, that's different," Jason said, laughing. "She just jumped five feet higher than everybody else that has done this."
They both praised the 11-time Olympic medalist — and most decorated gymnast of all time — with Travis placing emphasis on Biles' ability to come back so strong after having to withdraw from several events at the 2021 Olympics due to a "medical issue," citing mental health struggles as well as "the twisties" — a disconnect between the mind and body gymnasts sometimes face.
"It's such a feel-good story knowing the past and everything that she's had to go through and just to feel confident and getting back up there mentally. It's the best, man," Travis said. "So happy for her. And America is so proud of her, man."
Jason later called it a "highlight" of his time at the Paris Olympics, getting to see the Team USA female gymnasts receive their gold medals.
In the end, Biles left the Paris Olympics with three additional gold medals for the team final, the women's all-around final, and the women's vault final, as well as a silver medal for the women's floor final.
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