World gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, who hasn’t competed since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, made her comeback on Saturday August 5 at the US Classic at Hoffman Estates in northwest Chicago. , place of the possible first stage on the road to the Paris Olympics.
For her first competition in two years, Biles – a four-time Olympic gold medalist and 19-time world championship gold medalist – electrified the audience with a stunning performance, earning a total of 59,100 all-around points. The 26-year-old American star earned top marks on vault, floor and beam.
At the 2021 Games in Japan, the American withdrew from most events for mental health and safety reasons. She had successively given up team competition, all-around, vault, uneven bars and floor, leaving the Olympic scene far from her initial ambitions, despite a bronze medal on the beam.
Planetary star whose aura goes far beyond gymnastics, she confided that she had the impression of having “the weight of the world on your shoulders”. She explained her problems by an attack of “twisties”dangerous loss of bearings in space putting athletes at risk of injury when they land.
Qualified for national championships
Simone Biles has yet to announce a bid to compete in the Paris Olympics next year, the US Classic in Chicago could be a first step in that direction. This competition is the last chance to qualify for the US National Championships which will be held August 24-27 in San Jose, Calif.
Simone Biles previously used the US Classic to return to competition in 2018 after a long break following the Rio Olympics, where she won four gold medals.
For her return on Saturday, Biles, in a black and white leotard, wore the number 231. She performed her sequence in an electric atmosphere and to the applause of the public.
The gymnast had chosen not to perform certain more risky movements in her sequences. In Friday’s training session, Biles put in some solid performances, including a tough double Yurchenko on vault.