The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles

Summary

FROM PARIS OLYMPICS STAR AND LEGENDARY GYMNAST SIMONE BILES’S LONGTIME COACH, AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT THE MAKING OF A CHAMPION

WITH A FOREWORD BY SIMONE BILES

Simone Biles is one of the greatest athletes of all time. She’s won thirty world championships and Olympic gold medals. Five gymnastics moves are named after her; she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the youngest recipient ever); and, long past the age when most elite gymnasts retire, Biles has not just competed, she’s dominated, winning four medals including the individual all-around gold at the Paris Olympics.

But when coach Aimee Boorman met her at a gym in Texas, Simone was just a seven-year-old kid. An exceptionally athletically gifted one, to be sure, but not yet great. That would take time, care, love, and balance. Boorman helped shape Biles, both pushing her and holding her back, protecting her mental and physical health. “She’s like a second mom to me,” writes Biles. Boorman was the national team coach in 2016, where the United States team—and Biles—took home all-around gold.

The Balance is Boorman’s inside account of the growth of a transcendent athlete and the tumultuous events—from the dictatorial coaching of Martha Karolyi to the sexual abuse by Larry Nassar—that upended the lives of many girls, including Biles. The Balance combines unprecedented insider perspective on a legend, newsworthy details on gymnastics history, and compelling lessons on coaching and leadership.

“The Balance will be a must-read for any gymnastics fan, providing a compelling behind-the-scenes look at how Simone Biles became the GOAT. It should also be a must-read for any coach, illustrating that compassionate, caring, and sensible coaching works.”—Nancy Armour, USA Today Sports