Simone Biles Draws A-List Celebrity Crowd at Paris Olympics

As Simone Biles eyes another Olympic medal, a row of A-list celebrities watched her stunning performance in artistic gymnastics at the Paris Olympics on Sunday. The seven-time Olympic medallist, one of the most high-profile athletes at the Games, drew celebrities as if it were Paris Fashion Week.

Among the star-studded audience were Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Tom Cruise, American Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, and Snoop Dogg. Grande, sitting with Cynthia Erivo, her co-star in the upcoming film Wicked, was seen greeting Wintour, who was accompanied by Australian film director Baz Luhrmann.

Higher in the stands, singer Nick Jonas was spotted chatting with singer John Legend and his wife, model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen. Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Chastain also attended the event at Bercy Arena to watch Biles perform.

Biles, often considered the greatest of all time (GOAT) in women’s gymnastics, boasts an impressive medal haul of four Olympic golds and 30 World Championship medals. Her potential medal count could have been even higher if not for her infamous case of the “twisties” at the Tokyo Games, where she was forced to withdraw from several events due to a disorienting mental block. Many wondered if she would compete again.

Her return to the Olympic stage was a major draw, and Biles did not disappoint. She entered the Bercy Arena to an eruption of cheers, with celebrities in the stands and a global television audience of millions. Her acrobatic beam routine and energetic floor program, featuring one of the five skills named after her, wowed the crowd. She also executed her signature Biles II vault but opted not to attempt the new skill she is planning on the uneven bars.

Biles scored a total of 59.566, topping the all-around standings with three sub-divisions still to go. It is hard to see that changing, as her score would have won the last three World Championships.