Simone Biles Set To Make Comeback To Gymnastics Following Two-Year Hiatus
With a year out from the Paris Summer Olympics, our favorite gymnastics superstar is making her comeback to the sport. Yes, indeed, Simone Biles is back.
The official USA Gymnastics Instagram account announced on Wednesday that Biles — joined on the entry list by fellow Olympic gold medalists Suni Lee and Jade Carey — is returning to the mat for the first time in two years.
“Coming soon to U.S. Classic… A trio of Olympic Gold Medalists headline the list of athletes registered for the 2023 U.S. Classic, held Aug. 4-5 at @now_arena!” USA Gymnastics captioned the photo of Biles, Lee and Carey. “Check out the link in our bio for the full list of entrants!”
On Aug. 5, the seven-time Olympic gold medalist will headline the 2023 U.S. Classic at the Now Arena in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates. It will be the 2016 Olympic all-around champion’s first elite meet since the pandemic-delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021.
The U.S. Classic typically serves as a warm-up meet of sorts for the national championships, which are scheduled to be held on Aug. 24-27 in San Jose, California.
BILES ???? IS ???? BACK ???? pic.twitter.com/uGUAIBv7ZL
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) June 28, 2023
“We aren’t making comments on her return to the U.S. Classic other than we are super excited for her, and we are taking it a day at a time,” Cecile Landi, one of Biles’ coaches, said in a text message to The New York Times. “No pressure. Just enjoying the experience!”
Biles has repeatedly expressed her indecision around her return to gymnastics, particularly whether she plans a 2024 Olympic bid.
“I think, right now, I still have to heal mentally and physically, so I will be in Paris. I just don’t know at what role, if that is an athlete or an audience member, so we’ll just have to see,” Biles said during an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden last year.
As recently as January, Biles told the Houston Chronicle it was “up in the air” whether she’d return to competition.
That said, Biles’ comeback has been rumored, if not apparent, for months now.
Earlier this month, Brady Quinn — husband of U.S. gymnast Alicia Sacramone Quinn and the strategic lead for USA Gymnastics women’s program — seemingly confirmed her return on his podcast.
“I don’t know if this is public or not, but Simone Biles is returning to compete,” he said.
Other gymnasts have also mentioned she has resumed training at her gym, World Champions Centre outside Houston, and referenced working with her. But neither the Ohio native nor anyone in her camp had publicly shared information regarding her return before Wednesday’s announcement.
Whether or not we would see the 26-year-old return to her favored sport was not a matter of if but when — and now we know.
The star athlete is considered the greatest, most-decorated gymnast of all time (male or female), having won 25 medals across world championships. The four-time Olympic gold medalist is revered for her ability to do skills other gymnasts won’t even try in training, so much so she has two skills named after her on both vault and floor exercise and one on the balance beam.
The famous gymnast has also been a champion for mental health advocacy across sports. Her expected dominance at the Tokyo Olympics was disrupted by rising anxiety that manifested itself into a mental block commonly referred to as the “twisties,” which interfered with her spatial awareness.
It caused her to withdraw from one event in the team competition where the U.S. women went on to win a silver medal, as well as the all-around, vault, floor exercise and uneven bars finals. She returned for the balance beam final and went on to win a bronze medal.
“Not at all how I imagined or dreamed my second Olympics would go but blessed to represent the USA,” she shared in an Instagram post. “I’ll forever cherish this unique Olympic experience. Thanks, everyone for the endless love and support. I’m truly grateful.”
Since then, the 26-year-old has kept busy building a life outside the sport. Last year, President Biden presented Biles with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
President Biden awards decorated Olympic gymnast Simone Biles the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling her a "trailblazer" and "a role model."
"When she stands on the podium, we see what she is: Absolute courage," Biden says. pic.twitter.com/dI5uN8jP3B
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 7, 2022
She married Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens this spring and has shared progress with her followers on the building of their “dream house.”
The star athlete also boasts a successful clothing line with Athleta and a leotard collection with GK Elite.
Simone Biles' New Athleta Line Has Built-In Reminders for Young Girls That 'No Dream Is Too Big' https://t.co/OUft7Sck9f
— People (@people) April 19, 2022
USA Gymnastics has said registering for the U.S. Classic “does not guarantee participation,” but the entry may indicate Biles still believes she can be a force to be reckoned with in the world of national and international gymnastics she has dominated for nearly a decade.
Fans can only hope her presence at the U.S. Classic signals a return to the mat that may see Biles compete alongside her team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
And if Biles and Lee make the U.S. Olympic team, it would be the first time the U.S. squad would include two Olympic all-around winners. The 26-year-old would also be the oldest athlete to make the U.S. women’s gymnastics Olympic team in 20 years.
The U.S. Olympic team trials take place in June of next year, and the 2024 games start the following month.
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