Simone Biles, 26, is preparing to compete for the first time since she capped her Tokyo Olympics with a bronze medal on beam after withdrawing from all the other individual finals.
,” left her lost while suspended in the air, unable to successfully execute a vault with 2½ twists that she had performed effortlessly for years. It derailed her quest to earn up to five golds. Her Olympics instead turned into a display of an athlete prioritizing health over medals. And it prompted questions about whether moments such as Friday, with Biles back at a competition, ever would come again.“We wouldn’t be here if we had seen any hesitation,” said Biles’s coach, Cecile Landi.
Friday’s training session served as a public unveiling of sorts for Biles, who was not available for interviews. During the short practice, she performed routines that included the twisting elements that gave her trouble in Tokyo. She didn’t do her full repertoire of uber-difficult elements, but Landi attributed that to strategy. It’s not worth adding a few tenths in difficulty if a gymnast will lose even more with deductions that stem from the harder skill.
Her mastery of the sport’s most difficult skills has led to 32 world and Olympic medals and a massive platform that extends far beyond this sport’s usual audience. She has spoken out as a survivor of sexual abuse,USA Gymnastics for failing to protect its athletes from former team doctor Larry Nassar and highlighted the importance of mental health.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What to know about Simone Biles' return to competition for 1st time since Tokyo OlympicsSimone Biles will do something this weekend she hasn't done in two years: compete in an elite gymnastics meet.
Read more »
Simone Biles Begins Her ‘Journey to Paris’ Ahead of 2024 OlympicsSimone Biles celebrated her return to gymnastic competition with style — and mocktails — on the road to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Read more »
2 years after the Tokyo 'twisties,' Simone Biles will compete in Hoffman EstatesNot all gymnasts successfully return to competition after suffering a sudden loss of air awareness as Biles did in the Olympics.
Read more »
Two years after Tokyo, Simone Biles is coming backSimone Biles competes for the first time since Tokyo in the U.S. Classic in the Chicago suburbs. As of Thursday, the 26-year-old is scheduled to do all four events, including uneven bars; which she said has been the most difficult discipline to return to.
Read more »
Simone Biles Is Back, and USA Gymnastics Has Nike as a SponsorA once-teetering USA Gymnastics is announcing a big new sponsorship deal with Nike, ahead of superstar Simone Biles’s return to competition on Saturday
Read more »
Simone Biles’ Return Sends Ticket Prices Soaring 150% For Saturday’s U.S. Classic Gymnastics ContestTicket prices to the U.S. Classic have skyrocketed since Simone Biles announced her return to gymnastics competition.
Read more »