“My Heart Has Melted”
“Shocked” Biles marvels at sensational comeback
08/06/2023, 05:11 p.m
With a grandiose comeback, the three-time world athlete Simone Biles is back on the international gymnastics stage. The path to the 2024 Olympic Games seems to be mapped out. But despite all the euphoria, the 26-year-old does not want to be pushed for good reasons.
For Simone Biles it was just a “step in the right direction”, for her fans it was a small gymnastics miracle. The sensational comeback of the record world champion, exactly 732 days after she left the Olympics in Tokyo due to massive psychological problems, literally freaked out the audience in Hoffman Estates. An enthusiasm that obviously did the four-time Olympic champion very well.
“My heart melted. That support means the world to me. I can’t thank you enough for that,” Biles said, visibly touched. Two hours before the start of the competition, their supporters had literally flooded the NOW Arena in white football shirts flocked with “Biles” and the number “1”. All garnished with countless glittering signs and banners to bolster their idol.”There are still some things I need to work on, but for the first competition upon my return I would say it went pretty well. I am very shocked and surprised,” admitted Biles.
But although the further path to the 2024 Olympics in Paris seems to be mapped out, the 26-year-old didn’t want to be pushed into probing questions despite all the euphoria around her: “Things are going in the right direction. But this time I’m standing in line first place.” A more than understandable restriction, because the exceptional gymnast has had to experience too much suffering in recent years. As a young athlete, she was one of the victims of abuse by former US team doctor Larry Nassar.
Still in therapy
As of now, their flight element disorientations, known as twisties, are gone, but Biles still has to work regularly to keep it that way. “I’m still in weekly therapeutic treatment,” said the 1.42 meter short athlete after the competition. On their return, however, Biles showed only the tiniest of insecurities. She took first place in the all-around, vault, balance beam and floor, and third on uneven bars. Overall, the three-time World Athlete of the Year scored 59.10 points, a value that nobody but her has been able to achieve in the all-around.
If the US Medal of Freedom holder stays healthy, her next start would be at the American Championships in three weeks in San Jose, California. At the beginning of October she could then be a member of the US squad that wants to defend her team title at the World Championships in Antwerp. Then the wife of football star Jonathan Owens could actually come full circle. Because ten years ago Biles won the first two of their now 21 world championship titles in the Sportpaleis of the Belgian port metropolis.