Yes, Simone Biles is the oldest female gymnast to compete on the U.S. Olympic team in 72 years

UPDATE, JULY 30, 2024: Simone Biles is now the oldest woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics after the U.S. women’s gymnastics team won the team final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

On June 30, USA Gymnastics officially named the team of seven women who will compete on the U.S. gymnastics team at this year’s Olympics in Paris.

Among the qualifying gymnasts is 2016 Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles, who also competed in the 2020 Olympics. Social media posts claim that with her participation in the 2024 Olympics, Biles is the oldest gymnast to compete on the U.S. Olympic team in 72 years. 

THE QUESTION

Is Simone Biles the oldest female gymnast to compete on the U.S. Olympic team in 72 years?

THE SOURCES

• USA Gymnastics 
• Olympics
• A Team USA interview with Simone Biles

THE ANSWER

Yes, Simone Biles is the oldest female gymnast to compete on the U.S. Olympic team in 72 years.

WHAT WE FOUND

Simone Biles is the oldest female gymnast to compete for Team USA since 1952. 

According to Simone Biles’ profile on USA Gymnastics, she was born on March 14, 1997, making her 27 years old at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Biles is the oldest athlete on this year's women's gymnastics team, according to USA Gymnastics.

She’s also the oldest female gymnast to compete for Team USA since the 1950s. Team USA confirmed the statistic in an interview with Simone Biles after her qualification. 

In 1952, four athletes on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team were over the age of 27. Marie Margaret Hoesly was the oldest competitor on the team at age 35.

VERIFY reviewed the rosters for the U.S. Olympic teams from 1952 through 2020, using information from USA Gymnastics and the Olympics website. The second oldest gymnast to compete for Team USA since 1952 was Annia Hatch, who competed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens at age 26.