She won a record five medals at the Rio Olympics, and tonight Simone Biles is in Belize, the place her family calls home. Biles arrived at the PGIA this afternoon with her family from Houston Texas where they live. They held a press conference at the Biltmore where she was welcomed home, and told the media what she's looking forward to in a well deserved vacation:
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"Simone and her family, welcome home."
Simone Biles
"I think it's time for a vacation so that's why we came down here with the family to spend time with it. We came a dual citizen because my mom is from here, the whole family we're all dual citizens so I thought it's pretty cool but I still compete for the U.S but whenever I come here I get to use the passport."
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"We are Belizeans no matter where we are and I think that Simone and her family are the best example to show us that we can put Belize on the map no matter where we reside. So I asked the gathering this afternoon to give her family and she will receive many applauses I'm sure for the time she's here so let's give her family that applause because they have done a great task in making sure that she's brought up with that Belizean nationalism in her. I'll tell you even though she doesn't reside here she's Belizean and more Belizean than some of us who live in Belize."
Courtney Weatherburne, 7News
"What is the number one thing you're interested in doing while you're here in Belize?"
Simone Biles
"Just spend time with family, I didn't get to do a lot of it this entire year because I've been busy and travelling all over so that's the main thing. I do go fishing, Belize is the only place I fish. I don't really fish back at home because I think it's special to come here and fish and it's something we've always done since I was a little girl whenever we used to come here."
Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Favorite foods?"
Simone Biles
"Oh yeah that is my favorite, rice and beans, my mom makes back home too."
Kim Simplis Barrow - Special Envoy for Women and Children
"I really don't think Simone has a clue of what she did over the summer not only to me but to many young ladies in this country. You have inspired us in ways that is so amazing. We look at you and we can relate, we see ourselves in you."
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"And there is a sense of hopelessness in many respects of and for our young people here in this country. When they see an example, a bright shining star like Simone Biles, shine for the world to see, that light shines brightest for our young people right here in Belize."
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