Small but Mighty: How Simone Biles’ Height Helped Her Dominate Gymnastics

Simone Biles delivered one of the most memorable style moments at the 2025 Met Gala, combining high fashion with height-defying footwear. The Olympic gold medalist boosted her petite 4’8″ frame with towering cobalt blue Yes Darling Plateau sandals by Aquazzura—proving that great style isn’t measured in inches.

Towering Met Gala Look: Simone Biles in Aquazzura Platforms

She stunned in a custom Seraphim gown by Harbison Studio, featuring a sculptural neckline and architectural train inspired by Jacques de Savoie. Paired with celestial jewelry from Zales, Biles’ look was otherworldly and empowering, reminding everyone that powerhouse fashion comes in every size.

Simone Biles wore a custom Harbison Studio gown and blue Aquazzura platforms, while Jonathan Owens complemented her in a white Deji & Kola suit with Christian Louboutin shoes and accessories by Margot McKinney, Audemars Piguet, and Daniel’s Leather at the 2025 Met Gala (Credit: Doug Peters / PA Images / INSTARimages)

By her side, husband Jonathan Owens looked regal in an all-white custom ensemble by Deji & Kola, tailored by Marquise Foster. Marc Littlejohn styled his look, which featured Christian Louboutin shoes, a fur stole from Daniel’s Leather, a cane by ZeeDiva Signet, a Margot McKinney brooch, and a luxury timepiece from Audemars Piguet.

Together, the couple delivered synchronized glamour—equal parts bold, elegant, and unforgettable.

Other stars who impressed on the red carpet included Rihanna in a tailored Marc Jacobs suit with custom Amina Muaddi brogue mules, Zoe Saldana in a beaded Thom Browne gown paired with black-and-white Longwing brogues, and Demi Moore in a sculptural Thom Browne tie gown with opera pumps. See more of the best shoes from the 2025 Met Gala.

Simone Biles showed off a fresh pedicure and boosted her height in bold cobalt blue Aquazzura Yes Darling Plateau platform heels, featuring crystal-encrusted accents and satin crossover straps (Credit: Doug Peters / PA Images / INSTARimages)

Founded in 2013 by Charles Elliott Harbison, Harbison Studio is a Black-owned neo-luxury brand celebrated for its fusion of conceptual design, sustainability, and inclusive values. Aisha Dee wore Harbison Studio with a structured pastel green dress at the Fashion Trust U.S Awards 2025.

People who are shorter than average often face teasing about their height, such as being used as an armrest or hearing, “How’s the weather down there?” However, in specific industries, being small is advantageous. A prime example is Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.

In this striking photo, Simone Biles, at a petite 4’8″ (142.2 cm), looks like a pocket-sized powerhouse next to the towering Conor Dwyer, who stands at a lofty 6’5″ (196 cm) (Credit: Sara De Boer / Startraksphoto)

Why Height Helps Simone Biles in Gymnastics

While many contact sports, such as basketball, favor taller athletes, gymnastics is a discipline where shorter stature provides a distinct advantage. For example, Miranda Kerr’s height played a role in steering her away from gymnastics. As she grew taller, it became more difficult for her to pursue gymnastics competitively.

Shorter gymnasts benefit from a more favorable weight-to-power ratio, enabling them to conserve energy and more easily propel their smaller bodies through the air with precision and grace.

Olympic champion Simone Biles of the United States competing on the balance beam at women’s all-around gymnastics qualifying at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Credit: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock)

With a lower moment of inertia, petite gymnasts can push, pull, and spin their bodies quicker and far more efficiently than taller people. It’s science, folks!

For this reason, the average height of Olympic gymnasts has noticeably decreased over the years. Thirty years ago, female gymnasts averaged around 5’3″ (160 cm), but today their average height is approximately 4’9″ (145 cm). Simone Biles, one of the most accomplished gymnasts in history, stands at just 4’8″ (142.2 cm) and reportedly wears a shoe size 4 (US).

The heights of the 2024 Olympic gymnasts highlight their significantly shorter statures compared to the average American woman. Simone Biles stands at 4-foot-8 (142 cm), Suni Lee at 5-foot-0 (152 cm), Jade Carey at 5-foot-1 (155 cm), and Jordan Chiles at 5-foot-5 (165 cm).

Simone Biles uses her short height to her advantage as it makes it easier to spin at high speeds and rotate in the air (Credit: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock)

Hard Work Over Height: Biles’ Success Story

Of course, Simone Biles’ ability as an elite athlete is not due to her size alone. Although her height does play a factor, her success can mostly be attributed to her skill and steadfast dedication to the sport.

She may be small, but Simone Biles doesn’t have to put up with jokes about her height anymore. Her years of hard work have paid off, as the gymnast has earned herself a whopping seven Olympic medals and an impressive estimated net worth of $20 million as of 2024.

Simone Biles is even shorter than fellow gymnasts Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Madison Kocian, and Laurie Hernandez (Credit: Salty View / Shutterstock)

Here’s everything you need to know about how Simone Biles’ height and hard work led to her success — and what she’s been up to since her scandalous withdrawal from the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Origin Story: Simone Biles — From Foster Care to Olympic Icon

Though she may be a star athlete now, Simone Biles had a tough go of things growing up.

Born in the Midwest, in Columbus, Ohio, Simone Biles began her life at a disadvantage. Her mother and biological father both struggled heavily with drug addiction and alcoholism while trying to care for Biles and her three siblings.

After her birth father abandoned Biles and the rest of her family, her mother, Shannon, found it difficult to care for four young children while battling her own addictions.

Unfortunately, this led to Simone Biles, who was only three years old at the time, and her three siblings — Adria, Ashley, and Tevin — being placed in foster care.

“Most people might think that at age three I was too young to know what it meant to be placed into foster care, but the truth is I understood everything,” Simone Biles wrote in her book, Courage to Soar, which you can purchase on Amazon.

“When the social worker piled the four of us into her car, I knew exactly what was going on. We were going to live with a new family, and we didn’t know if we’d like it there. I think we were all a little scared, because none of us said a word during the car ride. Yet as clearly as I remember the heavy silence in the backseat of that car … the rest of my foster care memories are fuzzy images.”

Simone Biles in a silver AREA x Athleta dress covered in Swarovski crystals at the 2021 Costume Institute Benefit – In America: A Lexicon of Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021, in New York City (Credit: Guerin Charles / ABACA USA / INSTARimages)

Their maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, found out what was happening, stepped up to the plate, and housed the four children in their home.

He and his wife, Nellie, officially adopted Simone and her youngest sister, Adria. However, Ron’s sister Harriett (Simone’s great aunt) later adopted the two eldest siblings, Ashley and Tevin.

Simone spent the rest of her childhood with her grandparents, whom she regards as her parents, in Spring, Texas, outside of Houston.

“Being separated from my biological mom, being placed in foster care before I officially got adopted by my grandparents, it just set me up for a better route at life,” she said on an episode of her Facebook Watch series, Simone Vs. Herself.

The gymnast continued, “I feel like I wouldn’t be where I am unless that turning point happened. I would still be Simone Biles, probably not Simone Biles that everybody else knows, the world knows. But I also believe everything happens for a reason and I’m forever grateful for that because I definitely got a second shot at life.”

According to the gymnast’s book Courage to Soar, Simone Biles fell in love with the sport on a daycare field trip to a gym.

She was in awe of the older girls practicing flips and jumps at the gym and began imitating their moves — somehow, she was pulling them off.

The gym coaches noticed and were impressed, writing a note to the Biles family suggesting that they enroll the young Simone in gymnastics classes. Simone Biles enrolled in classes with Coach Aimee Boorman and quickly became a standout performer.

Simone Biles boosted her height in high heels paired with a pretty pastel pink dress at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, 2021, at the Barclays Center in New York City (Credit: Regina Wagner / DDP / INSTARimages)

Rise of a Star: Biles’ Gymnastics Breakthrough

After placing third overall in her first junior national competition in 2011, Biles left public school to be homeschooled so she could schedule her studies around gymnastics. She trained for six to eight hours every day.

Since she was too young to compete for a spot on the Olympic team, she competed in her first senior international competition instead, earning gold medals all around, cementing herself as a force to be reckoned with.

In 2016, Biles made her Olympic debut; the rest is history.

Tiny But Mighty: Biles and Shaq Go Viral

Simone Biles may be a giant in the world of gymnastics, but she looks like a pocket-sized powerhouse in a hilarious throwback pic with former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.

The image Biles originally shared on social media in February 2017 has gone viral again during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 4-foot-8 Biles, who wowed sports lovers when she and Team USA won gold during the women’s gymnastics team final on July 30, is wearing a strappy white top and a short black skirt in the photo, while the 7-foot-1 O’Neal is wearing a suit and tie.

Twisties Explained: Why Biles Withdrew in 2020

The gymnast’s decision to withdraw from the Olympic games was not easily made.

Under extreme mental and physical distress, Biles began experiencing a phenomenon called “the twisties,” which is when gymnasts become severely disoriented — or a lack of “air awareness” — while flipping through the air, which can lead to detrimental injuries that can end careers or leave gymnasts disabled for life.

Simone Biles and much taller gymnast Aly Raisman flaunt their legs at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards 2017 at Pauley Pavilion on July 13, 2017, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: Sara De Boer / Startraksphoto)

After the news broke that Biles would not be competing, cruel talking heads — especially those affiliated with conservative media outlets — began berating the young gymnast, calling her selfish and a “quitter” even though she was heartbroken over not competing.

Besides, it seemed the loudest voices were from those who had no idea how to do a somersault, much less a complicated Olympic vault routine. Thankfully, Simone Biles didn’t let their hateful comments ruin her life.

Simone Biles looks tiny next to Michelle and Barack Obama during an East Room event at the White House on September 29, 2016, in Washington, DC. (Credit: Ron Sachs / Startraksphoto)

Since then, she has devoted her time to charitable causes, inspiring young gymnasts around the country and speaking out about injustices and inhumane treatment experienced by elite athletes.

Still, Simone Biles doesn’t mind slowing down every once in a while—she certainly deserves to relax! The gymnast can frequently be seen on her Instagram spending time with her friends, pets, and husband Jonathan Owens.

Simone Biles on Embracing Her Height

I feel like I’m small and mighty and pack a powerful punch, just like Tide PODS.

I was built this way for a reason, so I’m going to use it.

I always say my biggest competitor is myself because, whenever I step out there on the mat, I’m competing against myself to prove that I can do this and that I am very well trained, prepared for it.

Mentally, I have to get my body and mind in the right place before I start the routine, but once into the zone, it’s like I turn on a switch. I envision myself doing the same thing for the Olympic Games.

I’m always trying to push myself to the limit to see what I can do. It’s my strong will that I’ve always had since I was a kid.

For me, I don’t think about size – I focus more on being powerful and confident.

Growing up, it was kind of a struggle being small, since everyone would make fun of you – except for when it came to hide and seek: that’s the only advantage I ever had!

Simone Biles attends the Sherri Hill fashion show during 2016 New York Fashion Week at Gotham Hall on September 12, 2016, in New York City (Credit: Fernando Lucena / Startraksphoto)

Simone Biles’ Uplifting Advice

I would say to always follow your dream. And dream big because my whole career, including any of the things that I’ve accomplished, I never thought in a million years that I would be here. So it just proves that once you believe in yourself, and you put your mind to something, you can do it.

A successful competition for me is always going out there and putting 100 percent into whatever I’m doing. It’s not always winning. People, I think, mistake that it’s just winning. Sometimes it could be, but for me, it’s hitting the best sets I can, gaining confidence, and having a good time and having fun.

There are goals that I have, and then I dream of it, and then I make it a reality. If I could crawl out of my skin and see it, it would be really amazing.

In the morning, I usually get up between 7:40 A.M. and 7:45 A.M., and then I’ll brush my teeth, do my hair, and just throw on my leotard and my clothes and go to the kitchen.

If anybody has a bad day, they’ll just come to my room because they know I’ll bring out the positive in everything, or I’ll make them laugh, or I’ll be just crazy.

I was missing out on public school and going to the football games, prom or homecomings. But I’ve been to three World Championships… so I think it’s like a win-win.

I’m very fortunate to have a coach that I got to stay with all this time. Every year the bond gets stronger and better, and we understand each other more. And it’s like she can tell if I walk into the gym what kind of mood I’m in, what she has to fix for the practice I need, or how I’m feeling.

It’s amazing that I can inspire little kids to know that you can be short or tall, and your body type doesn’t matter because you can do anything.

I tune it all out because if I let other people’s stress get to me, then I stress myself out more than I need to.

I started gymnastics when I was six years old. I was at day care, and they took us on a field trip to a gym club, Bannon’s Gymnastix in Houston, and that’s how I got started.

Most people would focus on concentrating more, and I can’t do that. It almost makes me overthink a lot of my things. I have to focus on not thinking.

Petite Powerhouses: Style Icons Under 5’2”

These petite celebrities prove that style knows no height. From red carpet events to casual outings, they embrace their stature with confidence and flair. Let’s explore some of their most iconic fashion moments:

Jada Pinkett Smith Elevates Her Style with High Heels

• Height: 4’11½” (151.1 cm)
• Style Insight: Jada often opts for high heels to boost her height, favoring brands like Christian Louboutin and Giuseppe Zanotti.
• Fashion Moment: At CinemaCon 2016, she stunned in a suede shorts suit paired with Francesco Russo sandals, showcasing her bold fashion choices.
• Discover more: Jada Pinkett Smith’s Height-Boosting Shoe Choices

Rashida Jones’s Chic Footwear Choices

• Height: 5’2¼” (158.1 cm)
• Style Insight: Rashida enhances her look with statement heels, often choosing designs from Jimmy Choo and Giuseppe Zanotti.
• Fashion Moment: At the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards, her choice of strappy metallic sandals garnered attention and sparked discussions on social media.
• Read more: Petite Power: Rashida Jones’s Height and Heel Secrets Revealed

Nicole Richie’s Petite Frame and Bold Fashion

• Height: 5’1″ (154.9 cm)
• Style Insight: Nicole embraces her petite stature by selecting heels that enhance her height, often opting for designs that add elegance to her outfits.
• Fashion Moment: She frequently showcases her style with carefully chosen footwear that complements her ensembles, proving that petite can be powerful.
• Explore her style: Best Heels for Petite Women: How Nicole Richie Enhances Her Height

Sarah Hyland’s Show-Stopping Heels

• Height: 5’1″ (154.9 cm)
• Style Insight: Sarah defies her height with bold fashion choices, often selecting heels that make a statement on the red carpet.
• Fashion Moment: At the People’s Choice Awards, she dazzled in a shimmering strapless gown paired with Stuart Weitzman ‘Nudist’ sandals, highlighting her chic style.
• See her look: How Sarah Hyland Defies Her Height With Show-Stopping Heels

Lucy Hale’s Petite Frame and Fashion Flair

• Height: 5’1″ (154.9 cm)
• Style Insight: Lucy elevates her look with heels that add height and sophistication, often choosing designs from Giuseppe Zanotti.
• Fashion Moment: She boosted her height with Giuseppe Zanotti’s Notte 105mm pumps for an early morning appearance on ‘Live With Kelly and Ryan’ in New York City.
• Discover more: Lucy Hale Boosts Her Petite Height With Giuseppe Zanotti Heels

These fashion-forward celebrities demonstrate that height is no barrier to style. By embracing their petite frames and making thoughtful fashion choices, they inspire others to do the same.