Simone Biles received an honorary degree from Washington University in St. Louis on Monday.
The 11-time Olympic gold medalist took the stage at the university's graduation ceremony and delivered the commencement address with a special message for the class of 2025.
At the top of her speech, she admitted that she was "a little nervous" and joked that she would "probably feel more comfortable if they had allowed me to vault onto the stage or do a little floor routine."
Simone Biles wins 2nd career Olympic gold in women's gymnastics all-around, Suni Lee takes bronzeHer speech, which lasted a little over 12 minutes, offered advice for the graduates. Biles, who is known as the greatest gymnast of all time, specifically shared her tips on how to be the "greatest you of all time."
"In today's dynamic world, things move quickly and there tends to be this urgency for what's next rather than living in the moment," she said. "In the days and months ahead, you guys might feel like you're floating around for a bit without the demands of school to keep you grounded. And that's OK. Let it be, and just take some time for you. Because really, all you guys have to do is be you."
She continued, "You don't have to be the greatest engineer, the greatest lawyer, the greatest entrepreneur or the greatest social worker. You just need to be the greatest you that you can be -- the greatest you of all time."
Biles, who is the most decorated American gymnast and is often referred as the GOAT -- or "greatest of all time" -- reflected on that title and said that being the GOAT was "never the goal."
"All I ever wanted was to be the greatest Simone that I could be," she said. "My goal was to be the greatest Simone Biles of all time. I wanted and still strive for that today. And when I start to get in my head and doubt myself, I reflect on what my mom instilled in me from a very young age, and that is to be the best Simone that you can be. Each and every day. Thank you, mom."
She continued, "It's always been about doing my best. Not to satisfy others, not to meet the expectations of others, not because of external pressures. Nope, it's just always been about being the best Simone that I can be, and I am so proud I've stayed true to that."
"The world doesn't need you to be perfect," she added. "It needs you to be bold. It needs you to care and to keep going even when things don't go as planned. So go out there and write your own story. Only one that you can tell."
She ended her speech with four pieces of advice on how to be the "greatest you of all time."
Read them below.
The first piece of advice Biles gave was to "show up for yourself consistently."
"Put in the work on days when everything is clicking and you're in your zone," she said. "And just as important, put in the work on days you feel like you're not even in the right arena."
She continued, "When you're consistent, when you bring your best to your practice every single day, then you'll be ready for the big moments. For me, it didn't matter if I was competing in a local meet or in the Olympics. The only difference was the setting. I could trust that I had put the work in, because I had consistently brought my best self practice every day. And now all I needed was to get out there and do my thing.
Simone Biles says therapy sessions during Olympics helped her performancesThe next piece of advice that Biles shared was to "prioritize your creative thinking" as it applies to how non-linear success can be.
"When you're reaching for things, you're going to fall short," she said. "And yes, sometimes you're going to fail, but that's OK. It just means you haven't figured everything out yet. When, not if, but when this happens to you, just learn from it. Move on to plan B. And if plan B doesn't work out, then make a plan C. And then guess what? There's the rest of the alphabet."
"The key to success is willingness to always find a way -- and you have to stay creative throughout that process," she added.
Biles' next piece of advice was encouraging others to take a step back from work and to "create space for hobbies that you enjoy."
"Work can't be everything," she said. "Take quality time for yourself and prioritize your mental wellness just as much as your physical health. Lean into your friends and family who fuel your joy and fill your tank. Surround yourself with good people who bring out the best in you and make sure they stay at the top of your priority list."
Her last piece of advice was about leadership and to embrace the opportunity when you're given the chance to lead.
"When I had moments of struggle, when the world witnessed my falls or my failures, I'd think about the kids at my gym and all the other young people who looked up to me," she said. "What would I tell them if they were in my position? I'd speak encouragingly to them. I'd remind them that a moment doesn't define a purpose. I'd tell them to get back out there. I'd tell them that it's OK to take a deep breath, to rest and to reset."
"If you guys don't have young people in your life, think about your younger self and make them proud," she added.
