Gymnastics: Panama’s Hillary Heron made history after pre-competition ego boost from Simone Biles

Panama’s Hillary Heron and gymnastics superstar Simone Biles of the United States will now forever be linked.

Heron, 20, made history Sunday (28 July) at Paris 2024, becoming the first gymnast other than Biles to compete one of the five elements named for the American in the sport’s code of points at the Olympic Games.

“She’s an inspiration, not only for me, for many gymnasts and being able to compete one of her skills at the World Championships and now on the Olympic stage definitely means a lot to me,” Heron told Olympics.com afterward. “It shows the impact that she has not only in gymnastics but in sports.

When I was in the warm-up, she told me she loved my leo,” Heron continued, before noting that her Olympic uniform includes nods to her nation’s typical dress, flower and more. “Definitely that was an ego boost.”

The Panama City-native was a crowd favourite inside Bercy Arena Sunday, as they roared to support her dynamic floor routine.

“I think it’s the floor routine of my life, just so much work that has gone into that floor that many people wouldn’t believe, hours and hour and hours and trusting myself,” said Heron. “I couldn’t believe I had done it, and I had done it just as I imagined it when I was four years old.”

It’s a moment that has Heron wanting more.

“Definitely I want more Olympics,” she said. “This is the start of my career. I’m just very, very motivated for what’s to come next.”