Houston boasts a proud heritage of Olympic gold medalists that includes shotgunner Forest McNeir, Texas’ first Olympic champion in 1920, boxer George Foreman, figure skater Tara Lipinski, basketball stars Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajowon, gymnasts Mary Lou Retton, Dominique Moceanu and Kerri Strug and the great Carl Lewis, winner of a record nine gold medals in men’s track and field from 1984-96.
The tradition has continued into the 2000s with trailblazing swimmer Simone Manuel, diver Laura Wilkinson, speedskater Chad Hedrick, basketball stars Sheryl Swoopes and Britney Griner and softball pitcher Cat Osterman, among others.
But among recent Houston-area standouts, standing head and shoulders above them all at 4 feet 8 inches, is the peerless gymnast Simone Biles, winner of seven Olympic golds, two silvers and two bronzes, plus 23 world championship golds, the most decorated athlete in the sport’s history…