‘Simone Biles Rising’ Part 2, the Olympian Takes on Paris and Pushes….see more

In the Endearing ‘Simone Biles Rising’ Part 2, the Olympian Takes on Paris and Pushes Through Injuries: TV Review

Three years after pulling out of the Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021 instead of 2020 due to the pandemic), celebrated gymnast Simone Biles returned to the Olympic floor in Paris determined to reclaim her title. In the years between the Olympics, naysayers had criticized the gold medalist for choosing to step back and focus on her mental health. In the first half of the Katie Walsh-directed four-part docuseries “Simone Biles Rising,” Biles speaks openly about her mesmerizing career and the struggles that led to her setback in Tokyo. The final episodes of “Rising” focus on the 2024 Paris Games and the woman and athlete Biles has become. Full of raw and inspiring moments, with breathtaking gymnastics competition footage, Part 2 of “Rising” is both a celebration and a magnificent ending.

Part 2 begins in Paris in July 2024. The camera finds Biles, her mother, Nellie, and her sister, Adria, enjoying the pastries, sights and shopping in the City of Light. But this is just the calm before the storm. During a confessional, Biles reflects on an injury she incurred amid qualifications in Paris. Though she feels mentally well, her body — her calf, in particular — might not be up for the task.