Most of us know Simone Biles as the GOAT — the most decorated gymnast of all time — but The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles offers a rare glimpse into the journey behind the legend. Told through the perspective of one of her very first coaches, Aimee Boorman, this book takes readers beyond the medals and into the early challenges that shaped Biles into the champion she is today.
It’s hard to imagine a time when Simone wasn’t dominating the podium, but her road to greatness wasn’t without obstacles. Boorman candidly shares Biles’ early struggles on bars, her difficulties qualifying into elite ranks, and even the sting of being rejected from a U.S. National Team camp.
The Balance also provides a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges Boorman faced as she coached a teenager on her journey to becoming one of the greatest gymnasts the sport has ever seen.
“At the same time Simone transitioned into Senior elite, she also transformed from a child into a manipulative teenager,” Boorman wrote. “I don’t say this in a disparaging manner. She was what I would consider a very typical teenager exhibiting very normal behavior. As her coaches, we needed to figure out how we were going to outsmart a hormonal young adult to make sure she was as prepared as possible.”
The book really hones in on Boorman’s experiences, both in life and gymnastics, that helped shape her coaching philosophies — which could serve as a great guide for all coaches of all levels.
Boorman coached Biles at a time when gaining favor with national team coordinator Martha Karolyi was seen as essential to an athlete’s Olympic dreams, but Boorman — then a relatively inexperienced coach — wasn’t afraid to stand her ground.
One powerful moment in the book captures this dynamic perfectly:
“By late 2011 we had become regular attendees at the training camp at the Ranch, and during one of our early visits, Simone received praise from nearly the entire national staff,” the book reads. “The exception was Martha. During that visit, the day-to-day training had been going great. Simone was eager to improve and please the national staff, especially Martha. Instead, the national program leader ripped into Simone, telling her she looked sloppy and lazy and shredding the confidence she had built during the camp. The attack was undeserved. Simone didn’t need to be broken down to be motivated to excel; she just needed time and supportive guidance. When Martha invited us back three weeks later, I declined. I had seen how Martha’s admonishment had affected Simone and didn’t want her to get verbally torn down again. Simone agreed with the decision — she didn’t want to go back either. Why would she? This was the first time I stood up to Martha, and it wouldn’t be the last.”
In the book, Boorman covers a wide range of topics that fans will be eager to hear about, including what led her to leave Bannon’s, life after coaching the GOAT — following her departure as Biles’ coach after the 2016 Olympics — her return to the Games with the Dutch federation in 2021, and reflections on things she might have done differently in her career.
Whether you’re a diehard fan or coach, The Balance is well worth the read.
The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles will be released April 22, 2025.
