Simone Biles impresses during official practice at the 2023 U.S. Classic
The 2016 Olympic all-around champion is set to compete for the first time since Tokyo 2020 on Saturday (5 August).
Artistic Gymnastics
Seven-time Olympic gymnastics medallist Simone Biles showed total readiness for her return to competition on Friday (4 August 2023) during the official practice at the 2023 U.S. Classic in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwestern suburb of Chicago.
Biles, 26, is competing for the first time since the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she withdrew to prioritise her her mental health while dealing with what gymnasts call the 'twisties' - a condition where the body and mind fall out of sync.
Earlier in the week, the 2016 Olympic all-around winner shared on social media that while bars had typically been the most difficult event for her to recover after time away from the sport, this time the American says it's been about twisting.
"Mainly because when the twisties happen, you go right into the gym and work on it...," Biles said during an Instagram story Q&A. "I took over a year off and then came back, so I was petrified. But I'm fine. I'm twisting again. No worries. All is good."
Better than good - Biles looked to once again be the world's best.
She began her training session on the uneven bars, where she performed a Weiler half, Maloney, giant full pirouette, piked Tkatchev to Pak salto sequence. Her routine concluded with a Maloney-half and toe-on full pirouette to full-twisting double back dismount.
On the balance beam, her routine opened with a switch leap, switch half, back pike and a triple wolf turn. She then performed a front aerial to split jump and straddle jump and a back handspring, layout, layout series. She dismount with a full-twisting double back.
The third rotation took her to the floor exercise where she tumbled a double layout half (called a Biles I) to stag jump; a front full through to double-double; a double layout and a full-twisting double layout.
Biles wrapped up her efforts Friday on the vault where she performed her history-making Yurchenko double pike.
After practice, coach Cecile Landi, a 1996 Olympian, addressed her pupil's readiness.
"We wouldn't be here if we had seen any hesitation. It's her will to be here, we supported [her], we see it," said Landi, "So, as long as she tells us she's good to go. We're gonna continue."
USA Gymnastics women's strategic lead Alicia Sacramone, a 2008 Olympic silver medallist, liked what she saw of Biles last month at a U.S. national team camp.
"We were very impressed with how prepared she was," said Sacramone. "She seems happy, healthy and I think we'll see some great gymnastics from her today and she knows it's not the time to be in her top, top shape. So I think she's right on track to where she needs to be for this part of the year."
Biles competes Saturday (5 August) at 7pm local time in the second of two senior women's sessions.
2023 U.S. Classic – Chicago, Illinois – Simone Biles complete schedule
Biles is 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 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. Biles competes 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)