USA Olympics Gymnastics Team Roster Set, Simone Biles Takes On Third Trip

OAN’s Brooke Mallory
Monday, July 1, 2024 3:37 PM

Gymnast Simone Biles is making her Olympic return and the overwhelming spotlight that comes with it.

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Her two-day total score of 117.225 points secured her a spot on the five-woman automatic qualifying team, earning her a third berth on the sport’s biggest stage on Sunday night.

Biles is returning to the Olympics three years after withdrawing from multiple finals at the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her mental health, but her coaches say she is back and feeling better than ever.

“Trust the process. [my coaches]”I knew I’d be back,” Biles said with a smile.

There was no uncertainty going to France since she returned from a two-year break last summer, and over the past 12 months she has solidified herself as an Olympic-caliber athlete, setting new records at her eighth and ninth national championships and winning her sixth world all-around title.

Despite being the favorite with many expecting her to repeat her 2016 Olympic gold medal triumph, she still has some areas to improve on before embarking on that journey.

Biles stepped back after successfully landing a Yurchenko double pike vault, proving not only how difficult the vault is but also the incredible strength she displays in a move that few male gymnasts attempt and even fewer can pull off cleanly.

But after failing to land a side aerial and falling off the balance beam, Biles did not appear to be as frustrated as she was after Friday’s performance, when she yelled expletives in public.

Next destination: Paris.

The experienced USA team will be looking to reclaim the top spot on the podium after losing to Russia in 2020.

2020 Olympic floor exercise champion Jade Carey, reigning Olympic champion Sunisa Lee, Jordan Childs, Hezly Rivera and 2020 Olympic silver medalist Jordan Childs are the final members of Team USA. Lianne Wong and Jocelyn Roberson will also travel to Paris as backups.

“There are still moments of uncertainty, including last year’s World Championships. [Simone Biles] She is taking safety measures to protect herself, meeting with a therapist weekly during competitive season, something she did not do in preparation for the 2020 Olympics. CBS News report.