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MINNEAPOLIS — Simone Biles is set to make a grand return to the Olympics, joined by her accomplished teammates.
The gymnastic sensation secured her third appearance at the Games by dominating the U.S. Olympic trials on Sunday evening. She scored a total of 117.225 over two days in the all-around competition, ensuring her position as the automatic qualifier on the five-member team.
Three years since stepping back from several events at the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her well-being—highlighting the critical issue of mental health—Biles is making a comeback. Now 27, she appears to be in top form.
“By trusting in my training and my coaches, I knew I’d make it back here,” Biles commented.
She won’t be making the journey alone.
Sunisa Lee, the reigning Olympic champion, 2020 Olympic floor exercise gold medalist Jade Carey, 2020 Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles, and 16-year-old standout Hezly Rivera also earned spots on the team. Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong were selected as alternates.
Since returning from a two-year hiatus last summer, Biles’ trip to France seemed almost certain. Over the past year, she has claimed her sixth world championship title and her eighth and ninth national championships, breaking records and solidifying her status as a gymnastic legend.
Biles is the favorite to clinch another Olympic gold to match her 2016 victory, though there’s room for improvement before the women’s qualifying begins on July 28.
She exhibited her powerful Yurchenko double pike vault, despite a slight step back upon landing. Biles also displayed resilience, bouncing back from an unsteady beam routine and concluding with a dynamic floor exercise, even earning a nod from pop icon Taylor Swift.
Biles waved to a standing ovation before taking a moment to reflect, potentially marking her final competition in the U.S. for some time.
Next, she heads to Paris with the goal of leading the American team to victory, after a second-place finish behind Russia in the previous Games.
The Simone Biles that will compete in Paris is different from the one who left Tokyo. Emphasizing life beyond gymnastics, Biles recently married and is looking forward to building a future with her husband.
As she prepares for the Olympics, Biles remains mindful of her mental health, engaging in weekly therapy sessions, a practice she did not adopt before the 2020 Olympics.
With Russia absent due to its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Biles and her team are the favorites to win. The squad, which is the oldest U.S. women’s team to compete at the Games, benefits from a blend of experience and the opportunities provided by recent changes to collegiate athlete compensation rules.
This seasoned team aims to overcome the challenges they faced at the trials, where injuries sidelined top contenders, paving their way to Paris with resilience and determination.