How old was Simone Biles when she began training with Aimee Boorman?

Simone Biles was 8 years old when she began training with coach Aimee Boorman.

Biles first encountered gymnastics during a daycare field trip to Bannon’s Gymnastix in Houston when she was 6. Her natural power and coordination caught the attention of the coaches, and she soon began taking the sport seriously. Boorman became her primary coach two years later.

Their partnership shaped Biles’ rise from promising junior to world champion. Boorman coached her through the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Biles won four gold medals and a bronze. Boorman was known for helping Biles develop difficult skills while also managing the focus and pressure required at elite competitions.

A common mix-up is confusing the age when Biles first tried gymnastics with the age when she began training with Boorman: she was about 6 when she first encountered the sport, but 8 when formal training with Boorman began.