Simone Biles: I hate exercise; after doing it for so long, I deserve a break'

Simone Biles appears well-rested and composed while attending the Future Health event at Madrid City Hall. She is a decorated American gymnast with 11 Olympic medals and 30 world medals, including 23 gold. She has not competed for two years, with the next opportunity coming at the Los Angeles Olympic Games when she would be 31. She says she misses the mat and the camaraderie of living with teammates and the positive atmosphere with coaches. She practices yoga and Pilates rather than gymnastics, describing it as exercise for movement and personal privilege rather than performance. She also notes Pilates is difficult and painful, but she does it to share time with her husband.

"It has been 662 days, almost 22 months, since your last night on the mat, the floor final in Paris. Do you miss it? Answer. It's not unusual to miss something you've done for so many years of your life, so yes, you could say I miss it. I especially miss the camaraderie, living with my teammates, and even the everyday good vibes with the coaches. But at the same time it's very nice to have this freedom. It's a mental and physical break."

"You're doing yoga and Pilates, but not gymnastics. In other words, you're exercising for fun, not for performance. A. Not for performance, no. In fact, I think it's just so I can say I'm doing a little movement, because I actually hate exercise. I feel that after doing it for so long, I deserve a break. And I'm giving myself that privilege."

"That said, my husband takes me to Pilates, and honestly it's not fun at all. It's very hard, pure pain and effort. But he loves it. And I do it because I love sharing it with him. Q. Listening"

Read at english.elpais.com