Simone Biles has long been nicknamed a “GOAT” — or the “Greatest Of All Time.” Now, she has an accessory to match the acronym.
The American gymnast, who became the most decorated American gymnast in the history of the Olympic Games this week, drew praise from fans online after showing off a new necklace alongside her gold medal.
The white gold necklace, which she clung onto proudly while on the podium on Thursday, is a diamond-covered goat. It was custom made for the Olympian by Janet Heller, founder and CEO of Janet Heller Fine Jewelry in Calabasas, Calif.
“She reached out to us about five weeks ago to say that she wanted to do a goat necklace,” Heller told NBC News. Biles didn’t give Heller too many specifics, she said, and so the jeweler went through “several iterations” before landing on the final design.
“What she didn’t know we would be doing, which was a huge surprise to her, was that we made it 3D,” Heller said. The necklace has 546 diamonds.
Biles said she knew the necklace would draw attention.
“My GOAT necklace is just kind of an ode, because the people love it and some people hate it,” she told reporters at a news conference. “So, it’s like the best of both worlds. I was like, ‘OK, if it goes well, we’ll wear the GOAT necklace.’ I know people will go crazy over it.”
