On Sunday night the 2016 U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team was introduced to millions of sports fans on NBC with a video package that featured an “Gold Medal” remix of La’Porsha Renae’s “Battles.”
The song was the American Idol season 15 runner-up’s coronation song, and now the theme for the five young athletes who will compete for Olympic gold in the women’s gymnastics competitions.
Download Battles (Gold Medal Mix) from iTunes, Download Battles (Gold Medal Mix) from Amazon
“Battles,” written by Big Machine Label group songwriter, Who is Fancy, was brought to NBC’s attention by American Idol producer Megan Michaels, whose father, David, is NBC’s producer for women’s gymnastics.
“He was watching the finale and saw me perform ‘Battles’ and thought that it may be a good song for the Olympics,” the American Idol runner-up told Billboard. “He just wanted it more Olympic sounding.” The song is expected to be televised at least a dozen times!
The song has a tragic backstory. Fancy wrote is as a tribute to the late Simone Battles, an X Factorcontestant and former G.R.L. member who committed suicide in September 2014.
Watch the inspiring U.S. Women’s gymnastics team video featuring La’Porsha Renae’s “Battles” right here.
