AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
- Simone Biles posted an adorable picture on Instagram of her parents in matching t-shirts.
- The shirts read "Because I Can," in reference to a now-famous answer Biles gave a journalist.
- Biles gave the answer when asked why she keeps doing high-difficulty moves when she isn't rewarded for them.
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Simone Biles has taken to Instagram to thank her parents for the sacrifices they made to help her career, sharing an adorable photo of them wearing t-shirts featuring one of her most famous quotes.
In the picture, Biles can be seen standing between her two parents who are both wearing red T-shirts reading "Because I Can."
The shirts are a reference to a now-famous answer Biles gave when asked why she continues to do extremely difficult manuevres even though she is not rewarded for them with better scores.
"Because I can," she said.
Under international gymnastics scoring rules, a number of extremely difficult moves Biles is able to execute – such as the Yurchenko Double Pike – are not rewarded with higher points than easier ones.
The International Gymnastics Federation says that restrictions to Biles' potential point totals in competition are meant to dissuade other athletes from taking dangerous risks.
Underneath her Instagram post, Biles wrote: "Appreciation post for my sweet parents. Thanks for making sacrifices since day 1 so I can live out my dream. but most importantly thanks for always being there for me through all the highs and lows. You guys are the absolute best. I love y'all."
She posted the picture after the 2020 US Olympic Trials. Biles, as expected, won gold in the all-around. Sunisa Lee came in second overall, while Jordan Chiles was third.
At trials, Biles' boyfriend, Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens, was also seen wearing a "Because I Can," shirt.
Having qualified for Tokyo, Biles is hoping to emulate her dominant performance at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when she won four gold medals and a bronze.