GYMNASTICS G.O.A.T. SIMONE BILES TRIUMPHS AFTER HEALTH SCARE
The G.O.A.T. is officially back on her feet. Just days after revealing she underwent an unspecified medical procedure, Olympic superstar Simone Biles proved that you can’t keep a champion down. Making her first public appearance at the Faces of Fitness event in Chicago, the 29-year-old icon showed off her glowing recovery while reminding the world why she holds the crown both on and off the mat.
Sporting a vibrant red athletic set, fresh braids, and clean sneakers, Simone Biles took the stage for a powerful 25-minute presentation focusing on the critical intersection of sports and mental health. In a delightful twist, the event hosts brought out 11 literal goats to celebrate her legendary career, which boasts a historic collection of seven Olympic gold medals. Biles playfully admitted she was terrified of her four-legged counterparts, posting a hilarious video to her Instagram Story showing her dodging the animals with the caption: “Terrified of my own family.”
This lighthearted moment was a breath of fresh air for the athlete, who recently endured a frightening health emergency in early June. With her husband Jonathan Owens away for training camp, Biles experienced what she described as a near-death situation. Reflecting on the traumatic event on her Instagram Story, she wrote: “Almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card.” While she is still recovering from the physical and emotional toll—recalling how her body literally collapsed after the Paris 2024 Olympics—the gymnast remains a beacon of resilience.
Biles isn’t the only star brave enough to pull back the curtain on severe health battles. Below, we look at other public figures who have navigated terrifying medical journeys in the public eye.
Lupita Nyong’o Speaks on Her Silent Struggle with Uterine Fibroids
The Oscar-winning star of 12 Years a Slave was diagnosed with uterine fibroids back in 2014, the very year she dominated award season. It wasn’t until 2025 that Lupita Nyong’o decided to share her decade-long struggle publicly. Writing on Instagram, she broke her silence on the agonizing pain women are often conditioned to accept as normal, urging her followers to stop suffering in isolation.
Jamie Foxx Opens Up About His Life-Threatening Stroke and Brain Bleed
In a deeply emotional segment of his 2024 special, What Had Happened Was…, Jamie Foxx detailed his harrowing April 2023 medical emergency. What started as a severe headache quickly escalated into a blackout that left him with no memory for nearly three weeks. Thanks to his sister Deidra Dixon’s swift intervention, Foxx received critical hospital care for a brain bleed that led to a stroke, embarking on a long, arduous road to physical rehabilitation.
Cori Broadus Shows Resilience After a Severe Stroke at 24
In January 2024, Snoop Dogg’s daughter Cori Broadus faced a terrifying health crisis when she suffered a major stroke. The young entrepreneur credited her close-knit family for rushing to her side. While her recovery was complicated by a lupus flare-up and kidney complications, Cori has worked tirelessly on her motor skills and is happily on the mend today.
Brianna LaPaglia’s Emergency Surgery for a Ruptured Ovarian Cyst
The popular podcaster had a major health scare in May 2026, requiring immediate surgery to address a massive ovarian cyst that caused internal bleeding. Sharing her journey on TikTok, she detailed how doctors had to perform multiple incisions to locate and clear the blood.
Nikki Garcia Navigates a Severe Breast Implant Displacement
The WWE alumna revealed that an intense in-ring elbow slam from Piper Niven shifted one of her breast implants. Ever resilient, Garcia kept her spirits high, sharing plans to get it surgically corrected once she officially hangs up her wrestling boots.
Suki Waterhouse Deals with a Painful Hernia
In a candid post on social media, the Daisy Jones & The Six actress admitted that wearing overly restrictive, tight pants ultimately caused an abdominal hernia that required medical attention and a temporary hiatus.
Brian Austin Green Recovers from a Perforated Appendix
The veteran actor shared his experience with a perforated appendix in April 2025. Green noted that the severe abdominal pain landed him in the ER for his first-ever major surgery, describing the recovery as a challenging but necessary process.
Savannah DeMelo Collapses During a Match
In September 2024, soccer star Savannah DeMelo suffered an unexpected mid-game medical emergency. After collapsing on the field, the national team midfielder was rushed to a local hospital, where she was stabilized and treated by medical personnel.
Adam Devine Opens Up About Childhood Accident Trauma
The comedian revealed that injuries from a childhood accident—where he was struck by a cement truck at age 11—still plague his daily life. Devine opened up about chronic spasms and wonky physical symptoms that continue to challenge him.
Jason Tartick’s Intimidating Spinal Injury
The reality star detailed a frightening spinal incident that left him crawling into the emergency room on all fours. Despite squatting heavy weights weeks prior, the sudden back injury severely impacted his motor skills before steroid treatments helped him recover.
Matt Kirschenheiter’s Sudden Heart Attack
Reality TV star Gina Kirschenheiter shared the shocking news that her ex-husband Matt survived a sudden and severe heart attack in early 2025, bringing the family closer together during his recovery.
Tracy Morgan’s Basketball Game Health Emergency
Beloved comedian Tracy Morgan sparked concern when he was wheeled out of Madison Square Garden during a Knicks game. Fortunately, Morgan quickly reassured fans the next day that it was merely a severe case of food poisoning.
Christy Carlson Romano’s Eye Injury Nightmare
The former Disney star survived a terrifying accident during a clay pigeon shooting trip. An unsafely fired fragment hit her face in multiple places, narrowly missing her eye, leaving a permanent piece of shrapnel behind.
Amy Schumer’s Sudden Battle with Cushing Syndrome
Internet speculation led Amy Schumer to discover she had Cushing syndrome. The condition, characterized by sudden swelling, was triggered by steroid injections she received for scar tissue following various surgeries.
Casey Fitzgerald’s Dangerous Skate Blade Cut
In a terrifying on-ice accident, hockey player Casey Fitzgerald suffered a deep neck laceration from a skate blade, requiring 25 stitches. His family expressed profound gratitude for his quick and complete recovery.
Hailey Bieber’s Frightening Mini-Stroke and Heart Procedure
In 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced stroke-like symptoms that revealed a brain blood clot. Doctors later discovered a hole in her heart (PFO), requiring a successful closure procedure that restored her health.
Justin Bieber’s Fight Against Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
Shortly after his wife’s scare, Justin Bieber shared his struggle with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which temporarily paralyzed half of his face and forced him to cancel tour dates before he thankfully recovered.
Tracey Yukich’s Near-Fatal Struggle on Reality TV
The reality contestant experienced severe organ failure and rhabdomyolysis during an intense physical challenge on television, reflecting on how the near-death experience completely shifted her view on physical limits.
Emilia Clarke Survives Multiple Brain Aneurysms
The Game of Thrones breakout star detailed her private battle with two life-threatening subarachnoid hemorrhages. Clarke endured multiple intensive brain surgeries and temporary aphasia before making a full recovery.
Shailene Woodley’s Long Journey with a Chronic Illness
Throughout her early twenties, Shailene Woodley fought an undiagnosed health battle that affected her hearing, mobility, and digestion. After a decade of combining traditional medicine and holistic healing, she has successfully reclaimed her health.
