Simone Biles’ 2024 gymnastics routine to “…Ready For it?” was instantly iconic — but the connection between the Team USA gymnast and Taylor Swift actually goes way back.
The two superstars have continued to publicly support each other many times over the years.
Keep scrolling for a look back at their friendship timeline:
2016
Swift has been declaring her support for Team USA as far back as 2016, when she wished Biles and the team good luck in the Rio Olympics over Twitter.
2017
However, Swift and Biles didn’t cross paths in person until the following year. Biles attended a Super Bowl party that Swift performed at in Houston, Texas, at the time.
“Always a joy watching you perform, nice to finally meet you,” Biles captioned an Instagram post at the time, showing off her standing next to Swift
August 2021
Biles struggled at the Tokyo Olympics, and opted to withdraw herself from several events, citing mental health reasons. While her decision attracted a lot of criticism, Swift defended Biles with a video set to her 2020 track “This Is Me Trying.”
“When you have the attention of the world, everything you do takes on a bigger meaning. It can be a heavy burden. It can be a chance to change everything,” Swift said of Biles, in part. “Throughout the last week, her voice has been as significant as her talents, her honesty as beautiful as the perfection that had long been her signature. But don’t you see? It still is. She’s perfectly human. And that’s what makes it so easy to call her a hero.”
The two women exchanged emotional messages on X in response.
“I cried watching YOU. I feel so lucky to have gotten to watch you all these years, but this week was a lesson in emotional intelligence and resilience,” Swift told Biles in one reply. “We all learned from you. Thank you.”
October 2021
Later that same year, Biles virtually presented Swift with The Gracie Grand Award at the 2021 Alliance for Women in Media Awards.
“I can’t even begin to express how much I adore Taylor and her music. And let me tell you, Folklore isn’t the only amazing thing she did during this ongoing pandemic,” Biles said. “She’s shown incredible grace and generosity to so many of her fans in need, including me. During the 2020 Olympics, she reached out. But she also did something so incredibly special for me that I’ll never forget.”
In response, Swift recorded an equally adorable acceptance video, once again declaring her love and appreciation of Biles.
2023
Swift and Biles were supporting their men — Travis Kelce and Jonathan Owens, respectively — at a Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs matchup. However, they did not cross paths during the game.
“There was no selfie!” said Biles after the game. “And I’m not sure they were exactly happy that the Packers were beating them!”
Simone Biles Becomes the Most Decorated U.S. Olympic Gymnast
January 2024
Biles compared her fame to Swift’s in a Vanity Fair interview.
“I think everyone wants to be famous, and then when it happens, you almost hit a wall and you have an identity crisis,” she said. “You’re like, Am I made out for this? Why did I wish for this? I’m not saying that [people] scream and line up like I’m Taylor Swift, [but] I still get a lot of attention. When five people come up to me and they’re rushing for a photo, I just get a little flustered. My anxiety kicks in.”
June 2024
Biles explained how her now-famous floor routine came to be.
“I just kind of let everybody pick whatever they wanted. Actually, my agent suggested Taylor Swift and then I found this Beyoncé song that I really liked and we kind of collabed it together,” Biles said. “I do love Taylor Swift and I do love Beyoncé …. Those are my girls!”
July 2026
Biles attended Swift’s wedding to Kelce — which prompted some backlash from fans. Biles was quick to shut down any negativity.
“The perfect love story, followed by the perfect nighTT,” Biles captioned an Instagram post from the evening.
One commenter wondered, “When has Simone Biles and Taylor Swift even spoken to each other?”
Biles had a sharp reply.
“Remember this, I only show y’all what I want y’all to know,” she wrote.
