Simone Biles dominated the Olympic Games in Rio this year, definitely becoming a permanent part of gymnastics history. Now, the 19-year-old plans to, in conjunction with NY Times Bestselling journalist Michelle Burford, write an autobiographic memoir entitled ’Courage to Soar’, telling the story of how she got to the gold in her own words.
“I want people to reach for their dreams,” Biles said in the publisher’s release, according to the Los Angeles Times. “There [are] so many people who have inspired me with their love and encouragement along the way — and I want to pass on that inspiration to readers.”
The five-time Olympic gold medalist’s upbringing became a point of discussion, at times, unfortunately overshadowing her talent that brought her to the Olympics in the first place. Biles was adopted by her grandparents after her biological parents both struggled with substance abuse and were not able to raise she and her siblings. Despite her beating the odds, many people defined her by her adoption and not by her athletic ability.
Biles talked about her official autobiography on Ellen, explaining that it’s about “my life story and it’s coming from me so that people don’t read something on the internet and they’re a little bit unsure of it. So it’s about my life, a little bit about my family, and then how I got to where I am.”
Vice President of Zondervan, the book’s publisher, Annette Bourland said that the book “will equip countless fans with the courage and motivation to move beyond ‘life as it seems.’” Set for release on November 15, 2016, the book will also include a forward written by 1984 Olympic champion Mary Lou Retton.
