Utah signee Poppy-Grace Stickler recounts competing against Simone Biles

utah signee poppy-grace stickler recounts competing against simone biles

Poppy-Grace Stickler of Team Wales performs on Uneven Bars during the women’s all-around finals at the Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham, England, Sunday, July 31, 2022.

More than a few University of Utah gymnasts — current, former and future — have competed alongside Simone Biles, the gymnast largely considered to be the greatest of all time.

Through much of her elite career, former Red Rock MyKayla Skinner competed side-by-side with Biles, most recently at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Current Utah standout Grace McCallum was teammates with Biles on that same Olympic team in Tokyo, and she competed against and with Biles many times before that.

Then there’s Amelie Morgan, another current Red Rock, who competed for Great Britain at the same Tokyo Games, alongside Biles.

Poppy-Grace Stickler — part of Utah’s 2025 signing class — is the most recent though, having competed alongside Biles at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, last fall, while representing Team Great Britain.

The competition was historic for Biles, who became the most decorated gymnast in world championships history with 25 total medals.

utah signee poppy-grace stickler recounts competing against simone biles

Stickler had a front-row seat to history being made, as she was in a grouping that included Biles.

In an interview with Olympics.com, the 17-year-old Stickler, and her Great Britain teammate Ruby Evans, recently talked about the experience and what it was like as a teen to compete alongside the most decorated gymnast — male or female — in the history of the sport.

“I was quite nervous,” Stickler said. “I was saying to Ruby, I was like, ‘Oh my days, she’s literally right next to me.’”

Evans, too, was in shock.

“It felt unreal,” Evans said. “I used to watch her on my telly and now I’m just sat next to her and she’s just so chill. She just sits there, has a little talk, and just gets on there (the competition floor) and just does it.”

Continued Evans: “And I accidentally sprayed her (Biles) on her leg with my spray. And she was like, ‘What was that?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, it was my spray, I’m so sorry.’ And she was like, ‘Oh, it’s fine’, and she just started laughing. So, yeah, it was nice to have a little conversation with her. It was just unreal, though. It was insane.”

Related

    Stickler, fresh off back-to-back stints on Team Great Britain at the world championships in 2022 and 2023, appeared to have a real chance to compete against Biles this year too, while representing Great Britain in Paris at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

    (Biles is currently in the middle of a comeback that, if successful, would see her compete in her third Olympic games.)

    The Welsh gymnast was injured last month, however, while training with Team Great Britain, fracturing both her back and hip.

    Stickler is still slated to compete at the English gymnastics championships in March, though it isn’t likely that she will be recovered and capable of competing by then.

    The fact that she even had a chance to make a run at the Paris Olympics put her well ahead of schedule, though, per Olympics.com.

    Writes Jo Gunston: “Despite the disappointment, the path plotted by the two (Stickler and Evans) highlighted LA 2028 as the Olympic Games to aim for, so even eyeing Paris is way ahead of schedule.”

    Stickler is, as of now, expected to begin competing for the University of Utah next January, alongside fellow 2025 signees Avery Neff, Zoe Johnson and Clara Raposo.

    Raposo could end up being the next Red Rock to compete alongside Biles. The Canadian is currently attempting to make it on Team Canada for the upcoming Olympics.

    utah signee poppy-grace stickler recounts competing against simone biles

    News Related

    OTHER NEWS

    Lawsuit seeks $16 million against Maryland county over death of pet dog shot by police

    A department investigator accused two of the officers of “conduct unbecoming an officer” for entering the apartment without a warrant, but the third officer was cleared of wrongdoing, the suit says. Read more »

    Heidi Klum shares rare photo of all 4 of her and Seal's kids

    Heidi Klum posted a rare picture with husband Tom Kaulitz and her four kids: Leni, 19, Henry, 18, Johan, 17, and Lou, 14, having some quality family time. Read more »

    European stocks head for flat open as markets struggle to find momentum

    This is CNBC’s live blog covering European markets. European markets are heading for a flat open Tuesday, continuing lackluster sentiment seen at the start of the week in the region ... Read more »

    Linda C. Black Horoscopes: November 28

    Nancy Black Today’s Birthday (11/28/23). This year energizes your work and health. Faithful domestic routines provide central support. Shift directions to balance your work and health, before adapting around team ... Read more »

    Michigan Democrats poised to test ambitious environmental goals in the industrial Midwest

    FILE – One of more than 4,000 solar panels constructed by DTE Energy lines a 9.37-acre swath of land in Ann Arbor Township, Mich., Sept. 15, 2015. Michigan will join ... Read more »

    Gaza Is Falling Into ‘Absolute Chaos,’ Aid Groups Say

    A shaky cease-fire between Israel and Hamas has allowed a surge of aid to reach Palestinians in Gaza, but humanitarian groups and civilians in the enclave say the convoys aren’t ... Read more »

    Bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families to march together in anti-hate vigil

    Demonstrators march against the rise of antisemitism in the UK on Sunday – SUSANNAH IRELAND/REUTERS Bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families will march together as part of an anti-hate vigil on ... Read more »
    Top List in the World