Simone Biles Qualifies for Third Olympics with Ease at U.S. Trials

Simone Biles is making her return to the Olympics, accompanied by a talented group of teammates. The gymnastics star secured her third Olympic berth by dominating the U.S. Olympic trials, posting a two-day total of 117.225 to secure the team’s automatic spot.

Three years after withdrawing from multiple events at the Tokyo Olympics to prioritize her mental health, Biles, now 27, appears poised for a strong comeback.

“Trusting the process and my coaches, I knew I’d be back,” Biles commented.

Biles will be joined by reigning Olympic champion Sunisa Lee, 2020 Olympic floor exercise champion Jade Carey, 2020 Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles, and 16-year-old Hezly Rivera on the five-woman team. Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong were named alternates.

Since returning to competition last summer after a two-year hiatus, Biles has been unstoppable, winning her sixth world all-around title and her eighth and ninth national championships, solidifying her status as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.

While Biles remains a strong favorite to repeat her 2016 Olympic gold medal performance, she acknowledges there’s work to be done before women’s qualifying on July 28.

During the trials, Biles showcased her unmatched skills, including a Yurchenko double pike vault, a move rarely attempted in women’s gymnastics. Despite a few setbacks, she finished strongly on the floor exercise, her signature event.

Looking ahead to Paris, where the U.S. hopes to reclaim the top podium spot, Biles reflects on her journey since Tokyo. She has prioritized life beyond gymnastics, marrying Jonathan Owens and planning to settle in Houston post-Olympics.

As a leading figure in U.S. Olympic history, Biles is prepared for scrutiny, having openly addressed her mental health challenges and maintained a regular therapy routine, a departure from her approach before the 2020 games.

With Russia absent from competition due to geopolitical reasons, Biles and her experienced teammates—Carey, Chiles, and Lee—are poised as favorites. Their journey to Paris has been marked by challenges, including injuries to top contenders ahead of the games.