Olympic Games 2024: Simone Biles wins all-around in gymnastics qualifying
Simone Biles of Team United States smiles during a Gymnastics training session ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics Games on July 25, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImages)
Simone Biles showed once again Sunday why she’s the most decorated gymnast of all time, shaking off a minor calf issue to post the top score in the Olympic all-around women’s gymnastics qualifying event.
Biles finished at 59.566, well ahead of reigning Olympic champion and teammate Sunisa Lee. The 27-year-old saluted the crowd after her dismount on uneven bars, her final event. After she hopped off the podium, she danced with good friend Jordan Chiles.
Biles posted the highest score on floor and vault — both after the injury — as she tries to add to her career total of seven Olympic medals.
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U.S. Coach Cecile Landi said the calf injury popped up a couple of weeks ago and described it as minor. So far, Biles has no plans to stop her quest for gold in Tuesday's team final and Thursday's individual all-around.
The only event final Biles is likely to miss is uneven bars, where she opted not to attempt a unique skill she submitted to the International Gymnastics Federation on Friday. She can still opt to do it during the team final, opening the door for it to be entered into the sport's Code of Points with her name attached.
Biles arrived in Paris this year determined to put whatever lingering ghosts there may be from the Tokyo Olympics behind her. Three years ago in Tokyo, Biles removed herself from multiple finals to protect her safety — prompting an international discussion about mental health.
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Biles is largely seen as the face of the U.S. Olympic movement and maybe the Olympics themselves. The buzz around her return to the Games has been palpable, with NBC leaning heavily into her star power by splashing Biles' face on countless promotions in the lead-up to Paris.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.