For those of you who have returned to watch another video on our channel, Simone Biles is ready to leave the Tokyo Olympics behind and look forward to Paris. It’s been three years since she made the courageous decision to withdraw from several finals in Tokyo to prioritize her mental health and safety, a choice that drew significant criticism and continues to resonate on her social media accounts.
Team and Competition:
Biles, the reigning Olympic champion, is leading a familiar U.S. women’s gymnastics team as they aim to reclaim the top spot on the Olympic podium, which they lost to Russia and Japan. Joining Biles are 2020 floor exercise champion and gold medalist Jade Carey, 2020 Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles, and 16-year-old rookie Hezly Rivera. Biles returns for her third Olympic attempt, making her the oldest American female gymnast in decades.
Career and Personal Life:
With 37 medals from the Olympics and World Championships, Biles is poised to become the most decorated women’s gymnast in history. After taking a two-year hiatus to focus on her mental health, Biles is back and better than ever. She now sees her therapist weekly, including during competitions, and has embraced her life outside gymnastics, having married Chicago Bears defender Jonathan Owens in the spring of 2023.
Owens was granted a brief leave from training camp to support Biles in Paris. Biles, who has worked hard to maintain her skills, continues to outshine her peers. Despite the physical and mental challenges of elite gymnastics, including recent kidney-related issues that affected her weight, she has remained resilient.
Training and Preparation:
Biles’s return to form is nothing short of remarkable. She has embraced new challenges, including a renewed appreciation for the uneven bars and balancing beam. Biles’s dedication to her sport remains strong, as she states, “I’m not being forced to do this. I choose to work hard in the gym and perform for myself every day.”
The Team’s Dynamics:
At 21, Suni Lee is the second oldest member of the team and has overcome significant health issues to reach Paris. Lee, who had a stellar performance in Tokyo, is hopeful for gold on the beam, despite some past difficulties. The team’s composition is unique, with athletes like Lee, Chiles, and Carey extending their collegiate careers due to recent changes in NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) laws.
Olympic Outlook:
The U.S. team is favored to advance to the finals, with qualifying rounds starting on July 26 and the final events scheduled for July 30. Due to Russia’s absence from the competition, the Americans are strong contenders for gold. The big story will be which U.S. gymnasts advance to individual finals, as the International Gymnastics Federation limits entries to two athletes per event per nation.
Looking Ahead:
Biles’s remarkable journey has seen her become the fourth American gymnast to qualify for three Olympic teams. Her resilience and determination are highlighted in the upcoming four-part docuseries, Simone Biles Rising, set to premiere on July 17. The series will delve into her Tokyo withdrawal, mental health journey, and her preparations for Paris, offering an intimate look at her life and career.
As Biles prepares for her final Olympic appearance, her story is one of strength, growth, and unwavering dedication to her sport and well-being.
