Simone Biles, the internationally renowned gymnastics superstar, is displaying a form that suggests readiness for the upcoming Olympic games, despite the event taking place more than two months away in Paris. Her recent performance at the U.S Classic was another dominant display, leaving both spectators and competitors in awe of the athlete’s spectacular prowess.
On this particular Saturday, Biles commenced her bid for a third Olympic team entry with an impressive all-around score of 59.500. This score outpaced that of Shilese Jones, the runner-up, by a resounding near-two points. At 27, Biles, who claimed gold in the 2016 Olympics, maintained her standard of excellence, achieving the highest score in both vault and floor exercise, and coming second on the uneven bars and balance beam, marking an impressive start to 2024.
An ever-radiant Biles expressed her satisfaction with the meet, saying, “I was just happy to be back out there, getting through those nerves again, feeling that adrenaline.” The gymnast didn’t hold back, treating the crowd to a handful of her signature skills such as the Yurchenko double pike on vault and a tumbling pass culminating in a triple-twisting double-flip.
A spectacle to witness, Biles executed the vault – a meticulously choreographed move demanding she clasp her knees while flipping backward twice – while her coach Laurent Landi watched on. Contrary to previous attempts where Landi would stand on the podium for support, a decision costing her a half-point deduction, this time he maintained a vigilant watch from the sidelines.
Biles’ performance was not without its flaws. She took a few considerable steps back upon her vault dismount, and her triple-double was so elevated that she landed out of bounds. Yet, even with these oversights, her blend of immense difficulty and precision continues to set the precedent in the gymnastics world.
Should her health not falter, Biles is almost guaranteed to represent the United States as an integral part of the five-woman Olympic team. The looming query for the next six weeks is which other athletes will be joining her in France.
Jones, who put up a stellar performance on bars and displayed consistency in other areas, will likely head to the U.S Championships later this month and the Olympic Trials in late June riding a wave of newfound confidence.
The path ahead remains unclear for other athletes. Gabby Douglas, the 2012 Olympic champion, had hoped the U.S. Classic would be a springboard for her comeback, but it only left her with more questions. The 28-year-old, who fell twice on uneven bars, withdrew from the rest of the competition.
The 2020 Olympic champion, Sunisa Lee, has been struggling with kidney issues for the past year and a half, making training a hindrance. Despite this, her sublime beam routine earned her a 14.600, barely surpassing the 14.550 secured by Biles.
An unexpected injury led to the premature exit of Konnor McClain, the 2022 U.S champion, after suffering an Achilles injury during warm-up on the floor exercise. This unfortunate occurrence cast a pall over the otherwise exciting event.
