Hartford, Connecticut, is getting ready for the clash of the gymnastic titans at the Core Hydration Classic! For the first time in history, the event brings three former all-around Olympic champions (Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sunisa Lee) together on the floor. The world got to see a first glimpse of the fierce ladies this season as they came out for the podium training ahead of the event. With all the actions, one might only feel like saying, “Let the games begin…Are you ready for it?” Thus said Simone Biles. No, she did not spell out the Taylor Swift lyric in any social media post. Let’s clear the air!
A recent post on X by the official Gymnastics Now gave a sneak peek at Simone Biles’ warm-up for the floor routine at the XL Center. Her impeccable moves are the obvious stunner in the accompanying clip. But something that also could not be missed is the music in the background. The tune and the beats complementing Simone’s routine are very similar to that of Taylor Swift’s “…Ready For It?
Noting that the post reads, “Seems fitting we get a little Taylor Swift moment in Simone’s new floor set.” For Simone Biles, the Core Hydration Classic will mark her debut for the 2024 season. Alongside, it will also be the beginning of the journey towards her third Olympic quest. The event is a qualifier for the upcoming 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, which will ultimately pick the participants for the Olympic qualifiers in Minneapolis in June. While we still don’t know if the track will be the final background number when Biles takes to the floor, a touch of Taylor Swift on such an important journey once again brings up Simone’s long association with the pop icon.
Simone seems to have been an admirer of Taylor Swift even before she shot to gymnastic fame. It was the year 2014 that saw the release of Taylor’s “Shake it Off”. An excited Simone Biles, then in her teenage, took to the X writing, “I really like taylor swift’s new songshake it off, shake it off” However, the fangirl in Simone got her reciprocation from Taylor after a few years.
Simone Biles and Taylor Swift: A connection that stood the test of time
Simone Biles got an ovation from Taylor Swift in 2016 when the pop star congratulated the Final Five for their golden glory at the Rio Olympics. With that, Taylor kick-started a companionship that would soar to new heights with every passing year. In 2017, the gymnast finally got around to attending a Taylor Swift concert, fabled for its larger-than-life moments and immersive experiences, and fans couldn’t get enough of seeing a smiling Simone pose with America’s biggest pop sensation.
Her “Always a joy watching you perform, nice to finally meet you, Taylor Swift” statement made it clear just how much seeing the singer in action meant. Then, in 2018, when the world stood in silence as the heinous acts of Larry Nassar came to the fore, Swift was swift to come forward to stand beside Simone, calling the first African-American gymnast to win the all-around title at the World Championships “a hero“.
When Biles pulled out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics final, Taylor didn’t hesitate to extend her support as she took to social media to state: “I cried watching YOU. I feel so lucky to have gotten to watch you all these years…We all learned from you. Thank you.” In 2021, it was Biles who handed Swift the Gracie Grand Award at the Alliance for Women in Media Awards as they once again shared the same stage. When Taylor’s album Speak Now (Taylor’s version) came out in 2023, a signed copy of the same was quick to reach Simone’s doorstep.
While earlier this year, the duo broke their fans’ hearts after missing out on a chance to do a photo-op at the Green Bay Packers vs Kansas City Chiefs, Biles had to reveal standing at two very different sections of the stadium while also supporting two different teams didn’t help to offer a situation for their meet up. However, in an interview with Vanity Fair, Biles still hailed the pop star for being able to handle fame with poise and noted that she’s not cut out for the same.
As the nation awaits another thriller performance from its favorite gymnast, it remains to be seen if Swift’s tune can ultimately feature in Simone’s routine. If that indeed happens, it will add another chapter to the long-standing camaraderie between the Eras Tour icon and the Olympian.
