Simone Biles Prepares for Redemption at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Simone Biles is eager to move past the Tokyo Olympics as she sets her sights on the 2024 Paris Games. Three years after withdrawing from several finals to protect her mental health—a decision that garnered both praise and criticism—Biles is now the centerpiece of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team.
Alongside a mix of seasoned Olympians and rising stars, Biles and her team are on a mission to reclaim the top spot on the Olympic podium, which they lost to Russia and Japan in Tokyo.
Joining Biles are familiar faces like Jade Carey, the 2020 floor exercise champion, Jordan Chiles, a 2020 Olympic silver medalist, and newcomer Hesley Rivera, a 16-year-old rookie who has quickly proven her mettle.
This formidable lineup is determined to bring home gold for the United States after their unexpected setbacks in Tokyo.
Biles, now 27, is making her third attempt to win an Olympic medal. With a staggering 37 medals from the Olympics and World Championships, she is already the most decorated female gymnast in history.
After Tokyo, Biles took a two-year hiatus to focus on her mental health, a period during which she married NFL player Jonathan Owens. Now, gymnastics is something she enjoys rather than something that defines her, and she is back in the gym with renewed passion.
Remarkably, Biles is in peak condition at an age when most gymnasts have either retired or are struggling to maintain their form. She continues to dominate on the floor and vault, and she has even grown to appreciate the uneven bars, a discipline she once found challenging.
Her teammate, Sunisa Lee, who won all-around gold in Tokyo, faced her own challenges leading up to Paris. Kidney-related issues severely limited her training, and at one point, she considered retiring.
However, with the support of her longtime coach Jess Graba and the USA Gymnastics medical team, Lee has made a full recovery. She is now aiming for a gold medal on the balance beam, a goal that has eluded her in previous competitions.
The U.S. women’s gymnastics team for the 2024 Olympics is a blend of experience and youth, a departure from the typical roster dominated by teenagers.
Recent changes in NCAA regulations have allowed gymnasts like Lee, Chiles, and Carey to continue competing at the collegiate level while earning money from their Olympic achievements.
This shift has not only extended their careers but also sparked a surge in interest in collegiate gymnastics.
Simone Biles, who jokingly referred to herself as “way older now” compared to her younger teammates, is leading the charge as the oldest female member of the American gymnastics team since the 1950s. However, age is just a number for Biles, whose exceptional longevity and unparalleled skill set her apart from her peers.
The team’s journey to Paris is being chronicled in a four-part docuseries, “Simone Biles: Rising,” set to debut on July 17, just before the Olympics.
The series will explore Biles’ decision to withdraw from the Tokyo Games, her ongoing mental health journey, and her preparations for Paris. It will also offer a behind-the-scenes look at her 2023 competitions and private moments with her husband, Jonathan Owens.
As the Paris Olympics approach, Biles remains focused on her goals, reminding herself daily that she still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and the power of self-care, making her return to the Olympic stage one of the most anticipated moments of the 2024 Games.
