Simone Biles Overcomes Leg Injury to Shine in Olympic Gymnastics Qualifying
PARIS — The resemblances were noticeable. Perhaps befitting in the birthplace of déjà vu.
Simone Biles sitting off to the side at the Olympics. USA gymnastics team doctor Marcia Faustin at her side. A look of worry on both their faces.
Three years ago in Tokyo, the situation concluded with Biles excluding herself from multiple finals to safeguard her well-being — sparking an international conversation about mental health.
Yet Biles is resolute to pen a different conclusion to the narrative in Paris. The 27-year-old American luminary wasn’t grappling with any kind of block or trauma but something much more common to gymnasts, particularly ones who have been engaging in this for two decades.
Just like in Tokyo, Biles and Faustin briefly vanished. Unlike Tokyo, Biles returned not in a tracksuit but with her left leg heavily wrapped after straining her calf during her warm-up on floor exercise. She spent the remainder of the afternoon strolling around with a noticeable hobble everywhere except the competition floor.
The woman who has been repeating time and time again this isn’t 2021 went out and demonstrated it on Sunday inside star-studded Bercy Arena, shrugging off what U.S. coach Cecile Landi characterized as a minor calf problem to record the highest score in the all-around and put whatever residual phantoms there may be from Tokyo in the rearview mirror.
Biles finished at 59.566, well ahead of reigning Olympic champion and teammate Sunisa Lee, acknowledging the crowd after her dismount on uneven bars, her final event. She leaped off the podium, danced with close friend Jordan Chiles and has no intentions to cease her pursuit for gold in Tuesday’s team final and Thursday’s individual all-around.
“It was pretty amazing, 59.5,” Landi said. “Not flawless so she can enhance even (but) … just really good.”
Landi mentioned the issue surfaced a couple of weeks ago and labeled it as minor. There was no talk of Biles withdrawing.
Instead, Landi and her husband Laurent — who have long served as Biles’ personal coach in Texas — encouraged her to take a breath and keep going as Laurent applied large quantities of tape to her leg.
“We instructed her to remind herself, like she’s capable of doing it,” Landi said. “She knows she’s got it and it’s OK and then she did. So, really excited for her.”
The issue hardly hindered Biles. She recorded the highest score on floor and vault through two subdivisions, a position she’ll likely find herself in at the end of the day as she attempts to add to her career total of seven Olympic medals.
The only modification she made was opting to skip trying a unique skill on uneven bars she presented to the International Gymnastics Federation on Friday. Instead, she performed her usual routine to score a 14.333.
The Americans tallied a 172.296, well ahead of the field after two subdivisions as they seek what they’re terming “redemption” after finishing second to Russia three years ago.
“They’re content and relieved,” Landi said. “Day one, now moving on to team finals, all-around finals, a couple event finals hopefully.”
Landi mentioned Biles’ leg was feeling better as she progressed through the events and anticipates her to be available moving forward.
The injury added a touch of suspense to an event that’s become a must-see for athletes and celebrities alike.
The stands were alive and filled with stars. Tom Cruise posed for selfies while awaiting Biles to emerge. Snoop Dogg had front-row seats, and Ariana Grande, Jessica Chastain, John Legend and Anna Wintour were also present.
Biles arrived in Paris as the face of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Olympics themselves. The buzz around her return to the Games has been tangible, with NBC leaning heavily into her star power by featuring Biles’ face on countless promotions in the lead-up to Paris.
Her magnetic pull is real. Athletes across the Olympic spectrum have said they want to make it a point to catch the most accomplished gymnast of all time in what could be the final competition of her unmatched career. Among them: LeBron James and the U.S. men’s basketball team, which was preoccupied Sunday with Olympic qualifying.
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