Biles' health scare.
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles recounts 'scariest experience' following recent health scare and hospital stay.
Olympic champion Simone Biles shocked fans on June 6, 2026, when she posted hospital photos to Instagram, writing that "almost dying wasn't on my bingo card earlier this week." The 29-year-old seven-time Olympic gold medalist called it "one of, if not the scariest experience" of her life, according to CBS Austin.
Biles posted three images to her Instagram Story: her right wrist with multiple hospital ID bands and an IV dressing, a heart rate monitor reading 126 beats per minute, and flowers sent by friends. The next day, she clarified on X that the emergency was a health issue, not an accident or violence, according to WGME.
Heart Rate of 126 BPM Alarmed Doctors and Fans
A resting heart rate of 126 beats per minute is dangerously high for an elite athlete. Most top athletes rest between 40 and 60 bpm. A rate of 126 bpm can signal a severe infection, a blood clot in the lungs, or a major heart event, according to BET News.
Biles did not name her diagnosis. She said she values privacy but felt compelled to share this time. Her husband, Jonathan Owens, was in Indianapolis for NFL preseason activities with the Colts when the emergency happened, according to Fox San Antonio. Biles thanked her "close circle" who visited, called, and sent flowers while she was home alone.
Biles Has Faced Major Health Crises Before
This is not the first time Biles has faced a serious health scare. In 2018, she went to the hospital for a severe kidney stone just 24 hours before the World Championships. She discharged herself early and still won four gold medals. In 2021, she withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics after experiencing "the twisties," a mental block where gymnasts lose body awareness mid-air.
After the 2024 Paris Olympics, Biles revealed her body "literally collapsed" in an elevator in the Olympic Village. She was sick for 10 days due to exhaustion. Each of these moments has shown that even the world's greatest gymnast is not immune to physical limits.
LA 2028 Dream Now Hangs in the Balance
Biles turned 29 in March 2026. She is already the oldest U.S. gymnast to win an Olympic all-around title. She has not competed in nearly two years since Paris 2024. If she pursues the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, she would be 31 — an extraordinary age for elite gymnastics, according to Fox San Antonio.
This health scare may push that goal further away. Biles recently opened a restaurant called "The Taste of Gold" at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and has built a major business brand. A long recovery could affect those ventures too. As of June 8, 2026, her representatives had not returned media requests for comment, according to CBS Austin.
Fans and Athletes Rally Around Biles at Home
Biles said she is now resting at home in Texas. Fellow gymnast Zoe Miller had trained with her just days before the emergency. Friends, family, and fans sent an outpouring of support after she posted the update to her 11.8 million Instagram followers, according to WGME.
Many in the gymnastics world used the moment to highlight the physical toll of elite sport, especially on Black women athletes. Biles has long carried the weight of being called the greatest of all time. Her willingness to speak openly — even without full details — sparked a wider conversation about athlete health and the pressure to perform at the highest level.
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