Gymnastics: How to watch Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee at the 2023 U.S. Classic
Olympic all-around champions Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee are set to make their returns to elite gymnastics competition.
Artistic Gymnastics
Seven-time Olympic medallist Simone Biles and reigning Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee are set to make their elite gymnastics returns Saturday (5 August) at the 2023 U.S. Classic in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwestern suburb of Chicago.
All eyes will be on Biles, who has not competed since winning team silver and balance beam bronze at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. That balance beam bronze medal came after Biles had withdrawn from several individual finals to priortise her mental health as she deal with a bout of the ‘twisties,’ the gymnastics phenomenon where the body and mind fall out of sync.
The 26-year-old, who married earlier this year, has not said much on her return, only offering a few lines in an early July tweet.
"sorry I’ve been a little MIA since the announcement 🤍," Biles said on 5 July on Twitter. "I’m overwhelmed with all of your messages, support & love! excited to get back out on the competition floor! XOXO 🫶🏾"
But the Rio 2016 Olympic all-around champion appears to be in fine form, having dominated the standings at the most recent U.S. national team camp. Results from the camp indicate that she competed her signature Yurchenko double pike vault en route to a 57.65 total in the all-around, some three points better than the next closest gymnast.
Biles has not indicated if she plans to compete on all four events at the Classic; however, she will need to perform in at least three if she plans to continue on to the U.S. Championships, 24-27 August in San Jose, California.
Lee, 20, found her NCAA season cut short in 2023 as she has dealt with a kidney-related health issue that continues to hamper the consistency of her training.
She last competed in late February as a sophomore at Auburn University, but the Classic will be her first appearance in elite gymnastics since winning all-around gold, team silver and uneven bars bronze at Tokyo 2020.
2023 U.S. Classic – Chicago, Illinois – Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee complete schedule
Both Biles and Lee are set to compete in the second of two senior women's sessions at the U.S. Classic. Competition will begin at 7pm local time.
2023 U.S. Classic – Chicago, Illinois – How to watch Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee live
CNBC will air live coverage of both senior women’s sessions in the United States, at 1 and 7pm local time on Saturday (5 August). Peacock will stream the competitions simultaneously. Lee and Biles compete in the second senior women's session.
NBC will air coverage on Sunday (6 August) at 3:30pm Central time.
USA Gymnastics will air non-televised sessions and podium training sessions on its YouTube channel. The schedule is below, all times local to the event.
Friday, 4 August
8-11:30am – Sr. women’s podium training (USA Gymnastics YouTube)
Saturday, 5 August5-7:30 – Sr. women’s competition, session 2 (CNBC/Peacock)