Simone Biles has never been one to hold back, and this past weekend she used her platform to ask for something that fame rarely affords: a little breathing room. The 29-year-old Olympic gymnast posted a candid message to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, April 19, while traveling in Spain for the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid.
In her post, Biles acknowledged the passion and dedication of her supporters while being transparent about the emotional toll that certain fan behaviors can take on her. She noted that seeing fans camped outside her hotel throughout the day triggers genuine anxiety, and she asked them to express their love from a distance instead. She balanced the request warmly, letting followers know she would still be open to photos while out and about during her trip.
The message was written over a scenic image that appeared to be taken at a restaurant, with two colorful beverages visible in the frame. Whether she was dining alone or with company was not immediately clear from the photo.
A glimpse into Biles’ Madrid travels
The privacy post was nestled among a series of lighthearted travel updates. Biles had shared snapshots from her flight to Spain and a mirror selfie taken inside what appeared to be a well-appointed hotel room. She capped off her evening with a skincare selfie from bed, face mask on and white tank top visible above her covers, posted as a playful nod to the awards ceremony the following morning.
The casual, unfiltered nature of the posts offered fans exactly the kind of access they crave, which made her boundary-setting message land all the more thoughtfully. She was not shutting anyone out. She was simply asking for the kind of mutual respect that makes genuine connection possible.
A champion arrives as an ambassador
Biles was in Madrid to attend the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards at Cibeles Palace on Monday, April 20, not just as a nominee or honoree but as an official ambassador and special guest. Her connection to the Laureus movement runs deep. She is a four-time Laureus Sportswoman of the Year, with her most recent win following a historic performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she added three gold medals and a silver to an already staggering collection.
Her ambassador role was formally announced in February, when she traveled to Milan to visit Polisportiva Garegnano, a program that uses sport to build confidence, resilience and life skills in young people, with a particular focus on girls. Her husband Jonathan Owens joined her during the Italy leg of the trip. The visit clearly left a mark on Biles, who described the experience as a powerful reminder of why the foundation’s work matters.
Simone Biles and the Laureus mission
The Laureus World Sports Awards is an annual celebration of athletic excellence that also drives real-world impact through its Sport for Good foundation, which channels the power of sport to transform the lives of young people globally. For Biles, the alignment between her own story and the foundation’s mission feels personal.
She has spoken openly about the role sport played in shaping her identity and the responsibility that comes with the platform her achievements have built. Showing up in Madrid as an ambassador rather than simply as a guest reflects a deliberate shift toward using her influence beyond the gym floor, and her fans, wherever they are standing, seem to understand exactly what that means.
