Simone Biles' road to a third Olympic Games takes centre stage at U.S. Classic: 'I know what I'm capable of'
Three years ago, U.S. gymnastics superstar Simone Biles probably would have never expected to be gripping up to compete in the all-around for this week’s U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut.
The star-studded event (set for 18 May), which will feature fellow Olympic all-around gold medallists Sunisa Lee and Gabby Douglas, will be Biles’ first competition of the 2024 season, as she begins her quest for a third Olympic appearance … and redemption.
A heavy favourite to win multiple gold medals heading into the Tokyo 2020 Games, Biles was forced to withdraw from the women’s team final and all but one individual final to prioritise her mental health as she dealt with what gymnasts call ‘the twisties,’ where the body and mind fall out of sync.
That experience – and those Games where she still came away with a team silver and balance beam bronze – pushed her to return to the sport.
“I think it’s kind of obvious. I mean, you saw what happened [in Tokyo], pulling out of five finals [when] I know what I’m capable of and know what I can do,” Biles told media when asked what had brought her back to the sport after the 2023 U.S. Classic, her first competition since Tokyo 2020.
She went on to have a historic return to the sport, capturing unprecedented career eighth and sixth all-around titles at the U.S. and World Championships, respectively. Her haul at the global meet in Antwerp included four golds (team, all-around, balance beam and floor exercise) and a silver on vault.
Biles enters the 2024 season as the most decorated male or female gymnast ever, having won a combined 37 Olympic and world medals.
New priorities
For the 27-year-old, her return to the top of the sport she has long dominated has not been easy or certain.
“I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to compete again because there were multiple times this year where I was in the gym and I was like, ‘I’m actually terrified of this full-in, like I’m not doing it again, never going to do it,'" Biles told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview last year.
"And then I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just going to come back another day, another day,” she continued. “The girls on the team really helped me with that because they were like, ‘No, Simone, just come in. Come on.' And I’m like, ‘Okay, you’re right. I can’t give up now because then I’ll forever be afraid of it.”
She also credits an increased focus on her mental health. Biles has weekly sessions with a therapist, including during last year’s Worlds.
"I'm making a bigger effort into taking care of my mind and my body, which includes going to therapy once every week, usually on Thursday is kind of my therapeutic day and I try to take a day for myself," Biles said. "It's really important that I'm taking care of my mind as much as I do my body, especially in this sport and outside of the sport."
Managing expectations: "Whatever happens, happens."
Biles knows that if she competes in Paris, she’ll be the focus of a bright spotlight.
She’s not letting that – or any outside expectations – get to her.
In her comeback, Biles has often kept her goals to herself and has shied away from directly saying she’s aiming for Paris 2024, including in a recent interview on the popular American podcast ‘Call Her Daddy’ with Alex Cooper.
“If all goes well in training…,” Biles said with Cooper interjecting, “The goal is to go to Paris.”
“Yes,” Biles confirmed.
Still, her approach to these Games is markedly different – and so is what defines success for her.
“I think what success means to me is a little bit different than before because before everyone defined success for me, even if I had my own narrative that I wanted,” said Biles. “So, now, it’s just showing up, being in a good head place, having fun out there, and whatever happens, happens.”