Simone Biles wins 2024 U.S. Classic, first of three pre-Olympic competitions
"… Ready for it?"
Simone Biles certainly looked more than ready for July’s Olympic Games Paris 2024 Saturday evening (18 May) as she easily claimed the all-around title at the 2024 U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut.
The event was Biles’ first since claiming a historic sixth World gymnastics all-around crown in October.
The 27-year-old posted a 59.500 in the all-around, well clear of Shilese Jones’ 57.650. Jordan Chiles (55.450) rounded out the top three.
"I was just happy to be back out there. Get through those nerves again, feel that adrenaline. I can't really complain," Biles told U.S. broadcaster NBC afterward.
Modest remarks from the 37-time World and Olympic medallist after posting her highest all-around score since the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Reigning Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee competed on three events, all but the uneven bars, and earned the top mark of the competition on the balance beam (14.600). Gabby Douglas, the 2012 Olympic all-around winner, fell twice in the opening rotation and withdrew from the event.
Saturday, every move of Biles’ season debut - from her daring Yurchenko double pike vault to the return of her triple double on the floor exercise moments after Taylor Swift’s … Ready for It blared over the loudspeakers - elicited shrieks from the near capacity crowd at XL Center.
She earned individual apparatus scores of 14.500, balance beam; 14.800, floor exercise; 15.600, vault; and 14.550, uneven bars.
But beyond the scoresheet, Biles sent a clear message that she means business as her quest for a third Games heats up.
Cecile Landi, Biles' coach since 2017 and a 1996 Olympian for France, says there's a marked diferrence in how her star pupil is approaching competition now.
"I don't know if we can see it, but she is way more relaxed and enjoying competing and having fun," Landi told reporters afterward. "And truly, I think she really found why she's doing it. And, I think for the very first time, it's truly for her."
Return of the Biles II
Saturday, the American superstar competed two elements - her triple-double on the floor exercise (named the Biles II) and a double-double dismount off the uneven bars - that were not included in her 2023 programme.
Two years ago, Biles had withdrawn from the women's team final and four subsequent individual finals at the Tokyo 2020 Games to prioritise her mental health as she dealt with what gymnasts call 'the twisties' where the body and mind fall out of sync.
The inclusion of the complex twisting elements seem to show that Biles is feeling confident 69 days ahead of the Paris Opening Ceremony.
Landi concurred.
"She's feeling good. She's looking good, and she's mentally and physically fit," she said. "I don't know. I mean, you tell me how she looked. To me, it was great."
Jones maintains No.2 position, Chiles powers back to third
For Jones, her performance in Hartford is simply more of the same she's shown the world each of the past two seasons where she's landed on the global all-around podium.
It also, she says, sets her up for the U.S. Championships later this month and beyond.
"It feels great," Jones said. "I just want to go out there and hit four events like I did. Just getting that off the way.. it definitely is boosting my confidence for Championships and hopefully on to trials."
2023 was not a dream season for Chiles, who was left off the U.S. squad for the World Championships.
But Saturday evening, she roared back, using a frustrating day during Friday's official practice to fuel her fire.
"I told her angry Jordan is a great Jordan, so just use that," said Landi, who also coaches Chiles at Houston's World Champions Centre.
"Angry Jordan is a good Jordan," said Chiles. "I think the biggest thing that I do is sometimes I go back in time to where I felt like I wasn't seen in this sport... It brings me to a point where, you know, what, like, 'Oh, I'm going to go out here and kind of show everybody that I am that Jordan and I can kind of express it differently.'"
The 2021 Olympic team silver medallist started her night with solid routines on the balance beam (13.700) and floor exercise (13.350) before earning her highest scores in her final two performances on the vault (14.100) and uneven bars (14.300).