Simone Biles flaunts her fierce attitude and is ready to reclaim her throne after the Tokyo 2020 nightmare

Simone Biles flaunts her fierce attitude and is ready to reclaim her throne after the Tokyo 2020 nightmare

At the time, Simone’s decision to step back when it seemed like she had it all was difficult to understand. In a world still reeling from the pandemic, she was also grappling with personal fears that kept her from shining as brightly as usual. But now, with a rock-solid support team, a renewed focus on mental health, and her undeniable talent, Simone is ready to reclaim her throne. Ovecoming the adversities As the leader of Team USA’s gymnastics squad, she carries an even greater responsibility: guiding her team through not just the intense global pressure but also any unexpected challenges that might arise, just as she faced in the last Olympics. One of the biggest fears for gymnasts is the infamous “twisties,” a mental block that makes it impossible to orient themselves in the air while spinning. In a high-risk sport like gymnastics, this can lead to severe injuries. On top of that, Simone Biles was dealing with the added stress of COVID-19 restrictions and the shocking reality that she was one of the 100 gymnasts abused by the convicted former US Team doctor, Larry Nassar. As the only active gymnast among Nassar’s survivors, she felt an enormous burden on her shoulders. Despite these overwhelming challenges and the harsh criticism she faced on social media for stepping back, Biles clinched a bronze medal with a routine that minimized risk. Tokio 2020 Now, watching her shine with a renewed attitude alongside her teammates Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, and Hezly Rivera, and leading Team USA into Paris 2024, is like witnessing a phoenix rise from the ashes, ready to reclaim her throne. When will Simone Biles dazzle at the Olympics? • Team Qualifying: Catch the action as Biles kicks off her Paris competition on Sunday, July 28, at 3:30 a.m. ET. • Women’s Team Final: Watch the drama unfold on Tuesday, July 30, at 12:15 p.m. ET. • Women’s All-Around Final: Don’t miss Biles aiming for glory on Thursday, August 1, at 12:15 p.m. ET. • Women’s Vault Final: See her vault to new heights on Saturday, August 3, at 10:20 a.m. ET. • Women’s Uneven Bars Final: Witness her elegance on the bars on Sunday, August 4, at 9:40 a.m. ET. • Women’s Balance Beam Final: Join us early on Monday, August 5, at 6:36 a.m. ET for her balance beam performance, followed by the Floor Exercise Final at 8:20 a.m. ET. Simone Biles Just saying her name can make gymnastics judges quake in their stylishly underwhelming boots. The greatest gymnast of our time, Biles has been the queen of the mat since her dazzling debut in the international arena. Her routines? Unmatched. Her dominance? Unrivaled. Since 2013, she hasn’t lost an all-around competition, and it seemed like nothing could shake her. But then came Tokyo, a city that usually evokes dreams of sushi and cherry blossoms, but for Biles, it became a pressure cooker of Olympic proportions. The powers-that-be at USA Gymnastics needed her to be their everything, their all-star, their “gold-medal token,” as one careless voice so gracelessly put it. They expected her to compete in all four events for the team competition, putting the weight of gold on her already burdened shoulders Imagine training your whole life, perfecting routines that defy gravity, only to be hit with the harsh reality of being seen as a medal machine. Add the loneliness of strict COVID-19 restrictions-no family, no friends, just a cold, empty arena. It’s no wonder that the pressure mounted until it became unbearable. Then, like a plot twist from a Hollywood script, Biles faced the unthinkable: the twisties. The term might sound whimsical, but it’s a gymnast’s worst nightmare. It’s the feeling of losing control in mid-air, like being trapped in a spin cycle with no way out. Biles, the indomitable, was suddenly human. She withdrew from the team competition, leaving a nation holding its breath. How a culture shift and leadership change empowered a legend to rise again She never named the person who branded her the “gold-medal token,” but at the 2023 U.S. Classic, Biles revealed the memory with a raw honesty that hit harder than any vault routine. The reaction from USA Gymnastics? Disappointment, denial, and a scramble for damage control. “We don’t tolerate that behavior,” declared Li Li Leung, the president and CEO, amidst the fallout. Now, with the Paris Olympics on the horizon, USA Gymnastics is singing a different tune. Enter Chellsie Memmel, the new technical lead for the women’s team, who brings a refreshing approach. Gone are the days of forcing Biles to carry the team on her own. “If she doesn’t feel like it’s in her best interest to do all four events, that’s an option,” Memmel stated, giving Biles the freedom she so desperately needed in Tokyo. Memmel’s approach isn’t just talk. Last year, at the World Championships, the same leniency was offered, and Biles, knowing she had a choice, chose to compete in all four events. It was her decision, and that made all the difference. “Knowing that is a possibility helps,” Memmel said, highlighting the psychological support as vital as any physical training. As Paris approaches, Biles stands not just as an athlete, but as a symbol of resilience and change. The greatest of our generation? Absolutely. But now, she’s also something more-a reminder that even legends need to be human sometimes. Simone Biles stands on the precipice of gymnastics history. As she puts the finishing touches on preparation for her third Summer Olympic Games, Biles is on the verge of a new US gymnastics record — and making the occasion even more special is the fact that her husband has been excused from his own job in the world of sports to be in Paris with her. Biles last year married Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, who has proven to be nothing less than a devoted husband and her staunchest cheerleader. With training camps underway around the NFL, Owens has been granted some time off by the Bears to watch Biles in France — and now the superstar gymnast knows just when her husband will be on hand to watch her pursue more medals. Bears excuse Owens for five days Bears head coach Matt Eberflus this week confirmed how big an impression Owens has made on him since the defensive back made the move over to Chicago from the Green Bay Packers. Owens has been excused from a vital stretch of the team’s training camp — from July 29 to Aug. 3 — in order to see Biles compete in the July 30 team final, as well as the all-around final on Aug. 1. “We respect the Olympics, that’s a big deal,” Eberflus told reporters. “He’s supporting the one he loves the most. I think that’s so cool that he gets to do that, we welcome that and it’s going to be awesome.” Following her exploits at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships earlier this year, Biles became the first gymnast to win nine all-around titles at the event, and she is set now to become only the fourth American female artistic gymnast to compete at three separate Olympic Games. After dropping out at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Biles — already the sport’s most dedicated gymnast with 37 combined medals — is more motivated than ever to return to the gymnastics summit. One more Olympic medal — either gold, silver, or bronze — will see Biles surpass Shannon Miller for the most by a U.S.-born gymnast.