Swimsuit

8 of the Best SI Swim Photos of Olympian Simone Biles Captured in Mexico

The professional gymnast has posed for the magazine twice.

Cara O’Bleness

Simone Biles

Simone Biles was photographed by Walter Chin in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

With seven total Olympic medals under her belt, professional athlete Simone Biles is tied with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals won by an American gymnast in history. Her earned collection includes four gold, one silver and two bronze. 

A winner both on and off the mat, Biles is also a mental health advocate, published author and two-time SI Swimsuit model. The 26-year-old made her debut with the brand in 2017 when she posed for photographer James Macari in Houston. Biles returned to the fold two years later, this time traveling to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she worked with Walter Chin.

Perhaps surprisingly, she revealed that posing for the publication a second time around was actually more intimidating than the first.

“It was actually scarier the second time, but once I was on set and shooting I had such a blast,” Biles told SI Swimsuit. “It’s an honor to be featured in the SI Swimsuit edition and to be a part of this group who is inspiring women and showing girls that all body types are beautiful.”

She added, however, that she felt more comfortable in her own skin the second time she was in front of the SI Swimsuit camera lens.

“I felt more comfortable embracing my feminine side the second time around,” Biles noted. “I appreciated how comfortable the crew made me feel because this was not like one of my normal shoots. They helped me relax and have fun with the shoot.”

Below are eight of our favorite photos that best captured Biles gracefully at ease in Mexico.

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Cara O’Bleness

CARA O’BLENESS

Cara is a trending news writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A passionate writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience in print and online media, she loves storytelling and believes that words have the power to change the world. Prior to joining the team, Cara worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, Cara loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University's School of Journalism.