Simone Biles, who dominated the competition at the U.S. Gymnastics Trials last month, heads to the 2024 Paris Olympics as the favorite to win the all-around competition
The 27-year-old will also compete on the U.S. women's gymnastics team alongside Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and newcomer, Hezly Rivera. If Biles reaches the podium just once, she will become the most-decorated American Olympic gymnast of all time.
Biles, who took two years off from the sport before making her epic comeback, appears ready to compete in her third Olympics. The nine-time national champion shared a peak of her "last practice" before heading to Paris, and sent a message on her mental state. Simone Biles shares a view of her final practice at the World Champions Centre on July 15, 2024 before heading to the Paris Olympics. Simone Biles shares a view of her final practice before heading to the Paris Olympics.
@simonebiles/Instagram "All the feels," Biles wrote on her Instagram Stories, with a mixture of happy cry and excited emojis.
Biles credited weekly therapy session for fueling her return to gymnastics and advocated the importance of mental health for all athletes. The world watched as Biles withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after experiencing "the twisties," a term for when a gymnast loses control and awareness of their body while performing high-level elements.
While some viewers may only tune in to see if Biles falters once again at the Paris Olympics, she shut down those haters.
Simone Biles looks on prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on June 28, 2024. Simone Biles looks on prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on June 28, 2024.
"They'll still say like, 'Oh my gosh, you're going to quit again? Or are you going to quit again?' And like, and 'If I did, what are you going to do about it? Tweet me some more?" Biles said, per the AP. "Like I've already dealt with it for three years. But yeah, they want to see us fail."
Biles is competing for herself. "I think with everything I've been through, I want to push the limits, I want to see how far I can go," she added. "I want to see what I'm still capable of so once I step away from this sport, I can truly be happy with my career and say I gave it my all."
