Simone Biles’s Winter Olympics Diary, From Figure Skating Finals to a Romantic Valentine’s Day Surprise

The first thing certain VIPs notice when they check into their suite at the Mandarin Oriental in Milan, Italy are the fresh flowers. Depending on the day, maybe it’s a bouquet of hydrangeas; a pop of pink and green in front of the white bed. Inside the bathroom, there are also monogrammed hand towels with the guest’s initials for a personal touch. But there are VIPs, and then you have your GOATs. Considering her status as one of America’s greatest athletes, Simone Biles might be most ubiquitous as a Summer Olympian with a treasure chest of 11 medals under her belt. But when it comes to this year’s Winter Olympics in the land of pizza and pasta, she’s earned the right to actually enjoy the all-encompassing spectacle for once. Along with her husband, the football player Jonathan Owens, Vogue was with Biles for her Olympic sojourn, Italian-style. “You’re gonna see the best of both worlds on every end of the spectrum, and that's what makes the Olympics exciting,” she says.

Biles and Owens were only living in their brand new Houston, Texas-area home for a day and a half before high-tailing it to Milan. “So this is our first big trip after moving in,” she explained. Along with juggling the move, Biles said she started packing a week before takeoff. “We went from Chicago to Houston beforehand, so I was already pre-packed.” And yes, she admits she’s an overpacker. “I’m very organized, though. I like to lay out my outfits and take pictures of them so I know what I’m wearing each day. But I think what got me this time was all of the heavier jackets we had to bring.”

However, not even Biles is immune to travel hiccups, GOAT-status notwithstanding. “When we arrived in Germany for our transfer, they said, ‘You’re on a different airline. We were like, ‘No, we’re not.’” But it turned out Lufthansa went on strike, and the couple was delayed 10 hours before finally landing at Milan’s Malpensa Airport. “It was very hectic and crazy, but it worked out.” Fortunately, she was refreshed considering she can easily sleep on planes (“It’s a trait you have to learn when you’re traveling the world competing.”) And for those wondering, she opts for the window seat. “Because it can be tucked away and a little bit more private.”

Walking into their suite at the Mandarin Oriental close to midnight, the first thing Biles did, aside from taking in those aforementioned flowers and towels, was unpack. “I like to be nice and tidy with everything, though my husband kind of throws clothes on the floor, so I usually give him a designated area for that,” she jokes. Opting for a relaxing night, they ordered room service: Owens got the sea bass, and she dined on a comforting dish of pasta al ragù. “It was absolutely fire,” says Biles, who loves carbs whether or not she’s abroad. “I’ve actually never been on any sort of diet while I’ve been training,” she says. “My coaches were really sweet and nice, and they always just allowed me to eat what fueled my body and what was the best fit for me. So I always ate pastas and pizzas and desserts, and all of that stuff.”

Buon giorno! As the chilly morning sun broke through the hotel’s curtains, Biles—who was recently announced as Mandarin Oriental’s first-ever wellness ambassador—began her first morning heading down to the hotel’s spa for an 8 a.m. shoot around the property. “The spa was so cute,” she said, shouting out a massive water fountain that greets guests in the subterranean space. With the shots secured, Biles and company then attended Friday, February 13th’s figure skating competition, which featured competitors like “Quad God” Ilia Malinin, who’d make global headlines by subsequently falling short of high expectations.

Biles knows full well the two sides of Olympic triumph and stress. “We have obviously been watching everybody at home before arriving, so we learned everybody’s backgrounds and stories before seeing them live,” Biles said. “I can just relate because I’ve been in their shoes before and I know what it’s like to have success and to feel on top of the world, but then also have those down moments. I just feel for some of the athletes because it’s really hard to stay mentally locked in for these two to three weeks and to do the best performances of your life.” On Threads, Biles later posted a personal message: “Totally devastated for Ilia.”

After the rollercoaster of emotions, Biles and her team decompressed with dinner around the corner from their hotel at Bacaro Montenapoleone, located on the eponymous picturesque street dotted with boutique stores and traditional eateries. This time, she opted for a bright lemon pasta, alongside the lasagna. “I usually like to ask the waitress what they recommend.” Biles enjoyed the meal so much that they went back the next day. “I had to try the risotto,” she says, of the classic Milanese dish.

On Saturday morning, Biles ordered breakfast room service (eggs, boiled or scrambled) and visited a local gym. “We got to talk to some of the girls and watch them practice. We also did a little handstand contest with them. It was really special.” The plan was to take a walk afterwards, but Owens said they needed to layer up. “Everyone was insistent we go back to the room to get a jacket, and I was like, ‘Fine, we’ll go to the room.’” But when Biles opened the door, she realized it was all a ruse for Valentine’s Day. Owens (working with the Mandarin Oriental team) surprised her with a decked-out room with flowers, balloons, and even a heart-shaped pizza. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God!’ It was so sweet.”

The only thing left to do in Italy was shop, a favorite activity for Biles when she travels. “I always like to buy stuff abroad, which is something my mom taught me. Sure, you can get something in the US, but if you buy it abroad, you’ll always remember it, and it’ll be special.” For this trip, Owens gave Biles a Valentine’s gift of a bag and wallet from Milan-based Bottega Veneta. It turned out it was more memorable than expected, with Owens later posting that the bag was nearly snatched out of his hand on the sidewalk.

Not letting that blip deter her, Biles went on another shoot for the hotel around the city; this time taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling streets, where lit-up Olympic decor hangs above the speeding cars below, before dining at the stylish La Bullona. “It’s very fancy but so cute, and as the night goes on, they pump up the music.”

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