Simone Biles continues expanding her influence beyond gymnastics mats and Olympic podiums. The decorated athlete has been named the first-ever Global Wellness Ambassador for Mandarin Oriental hotel group.
This groundbreaking partnership extends far beyond traditional celebrity endorsements. Biles will actively collaborate on developing wellness programs across Mandarin Oriental’s global properties.
More Than Physical Performance: A Holistic Wellness Philosophy
Biles has consistently demonstrated that wellness encompasses more than athletic achievement. She’s spoken openly about mental health, therapy, and the importance of complete self-care.
“I’m excited to partner with Mandarin Oriental because we share the same belief that wellness is about more than physical performance — it’s about taking care of your whole self,” Biles said in a statement. Her words reflect years of lived experience at elite competition levels.
“Throughout my career, I’ve learned how important recovery, mental wellbeing, and balance are,” she continued. This knowledge comes from navigating the highest pressures in sports while protecting her mental health.
Debuting the Role in Milan as a Sports Fan
Biles made her inaugural appearance as Global Wellness Ambassador at Mandarin Oriental, Milan. She visited the Italian city for the first time as a sports fan, not a competitor.
The timing allowed her to experience the property as a guest might. She could evaluate wellness offerings from a user perspective rather than promotional obligations.
“I’m honored to work with a brand that truly understands and supports that belief in providing guests with holistic wellness offerings,” Biles stated. The partnership reflects genuine alignment rather than transactional celebrity marketing.
Active Collaboration Beyond Traditional Endorsement
This partnership positions Biles as a genuine collaborator, not just a famous spokesperson. She’ll work alongside Mandarin Oriental’s Wellness Board on program development.
The Wellness Board includes specialists in movement, nutrition, sleep, meditation, and lifestyle performance. Biles brings elite athletic perspective to this expert group.
Together, they’ll develop programs and experiences across the hotel group’s global properties. Her input will shape offerings available to guests worldwide.
Limited-Time Experiences Inspired by Biles
To mark the partnership launch, Mandarin Oriental, Milan is offering two exclusive experiences. Both draw inspiration from Biles’s approach to recovery and wellness through the end of March.
The Double-Double Glow combines hot and cold stone massage with high-performance facial treatments. This full recovery spa treatment addresses both muscular and skin wellness simultaneously.
The treatment reflects Biles’s understanding that recovery requires comprehensive attention. Athletes can’t separate physical healing from overall self-care practices.
The Champion Chip Cookie: Joy as Part of Wellness
The second limited experience takes a delightfully unexpected form—a cookie. The Champion Chip cookie was developed with the hotel’s culinary team specifically for this launch.
The treat draws inspiration from Biles’s approach to nourishment and wellness. It acknowledges that joy and pleasure belong in healthy living.
This inclusion sends an important message about sustainable wellness. Deprivation doesn’t equal health, and enjoyment can coexist with peak performance nutrition.
Moving Beyond Endorsement to Genuine Collaboration
Chief Brand and Marketing Officer Alex Schellenberger articulated the partnership’s significance clearly. It represents “a new era in how we engage with talent, moving beyond endorsement to genuine collaboration,” he stated.
Biles brings specific qualities that elevate this partnership beyond typical celebrity deals. Schellenberger noted she contributes “credibility, lived experience and global influence” to the brand’s wellness philosophy.
Her public journey with mental health adds authenticity impossible to manufacture. She’s not theorizing about wellness—she’s demonstrated it under extraordinary pressure.
Extending Impact Through Laureus Sport for Good
The collaboration extends beyond luxury hospitality into social impact. Both Biles and Mandarin Oriental will support Laureus Sport for Good.
This organization uses sport to create opportunity for young people globally. The cause aligns with both Biles’s values and Mandarin Oriental’s broader mission.
Connecting wellness programming to youth development makes strategic sense. Today’s young athletes need models for sustainable, holistic approaches to competition and life.
Reframing Self-Care at Elite Competition Levels
Biles has spent years publicly reframing what self-care looks like in elite athletics. She’s discussed therapy openly without shame or apology.
She explained the “twisties” that led her to withdraw from several Tokyo Olympics events. She described what returning to competition actually required mentally and physically.
Three gold medals in Paris followed her Tokyo withdrawal. The conversation around her shifted considerably after demonstrating that prioritizing wellness enables rather than prevents excellence.
The Tokyo Olympics Withdrawal That Changed Everything
Biles’s 2021 Tokyo Olympics experience represents a watershed moment in sports. She withdrew from multiple events citing mental health concerns and the dangerous “twisties.”
The “twisties” cause gymnasts to lose spatial awareness mid-air. This condition makes attempting high-difficulty skills genuinely life-threatening.
Her decision to prioritize safety over medals sparked global conversation. It challenged traditional narratives about athletic toughness and mental fortitude.
Paris 2026: Triumphant Return With Three Gold Medals
Biles returned to Olympic competition at the 2024 Paris Games. She claimed three gold medals, proving that stepping back enabled her comeback.
Her Paris performance validated her Tokyo decision retrospectively. Taking time for mental health recovery made continued excellence possible.
The contrast between Tokyo and Paris demonstrates her wellness philosophy practically. Recovery and performance aren’t opposed—they’re interdependent.
Mandarin Oriental Joins the Wellness Conversation
Mandarin Oriental is now part of the evolving conversation around athlete wellness. The hotel group’s platform amplifies Biles’s message about holistic health.
The partnership brings wellness principles from elite athletics into luxury hospitality. Hotel guests benefit from approaches developed for Olympic-level performance.
This cross-pollination creates value for both parties. Biles gains institutional support for her wellness advocacy. Mandarin Oriental gains authentic expertise in holistic recovery programming.
Global Influence Meets Hospitality Innovation
Biles’s global influence makes this partnership particularly significant. She’s recognized worldwide as both athlete and mental health advocate.
Her involvement with Mandarin Oriental brings wellness conversations to new audiences. Hotel guests who might not follow gymnastics will encounter her philosophy.
The partnership demonstrates how athlete influence extends beyond sports contexts. Biles is shaping wellness culture across industries and demographics through strategic collaborations like this one.