Simone Biles, a four-time Olympic winner, stated, “I knew I would be back” after qualifying for the Paris Games.
The 27-year-old American qualified for the US Olympic trials on Sunday in Minneapolis with a two-day all-around score of 117.225.
Biles will compete in her third Olympics, having previously competed in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020.
She had a dismal Games in Tokyo, winning a silver and a bronze, as she suffered from the ‘twisties’, which gymnasts describe as a type of mental block, and withdrew from various events to prioritise her psychological health and safety.
Biles, who won four gold medals and one silver in Rio, took a vacation following the 2020 Olympics but returned in 2023. Since then, she has won her sixth all-around world title, three additional global gold medals, and two national championships.
“I knew I wasn’t done after the performances in Tokyo,” Biles said.
“I just had to get back in the gym, work hard, and trust the process. I knew I would be back.”
Biles’ routine started with the Taylor Swift song ‘Ready for It?’ and the Grammy-winning singer posted on X: “I watched this so many times and am still unready. She’s ready for it, though.”
“I think my team talks to her team sometimes, and I have met her a couple of times, so it has been really sweet,” added Biles. “I knew I wasn’t done after the performances in Tokyo,” Biles said.
“I just had to get back in the gym, work hard, and trust the process. I knew I would be back.”
Biles’ routine started with the Taylor Swift song ‘Ready for It?’ and the Grammy-winning singer posted on X: “I watched this so many times and am still unready. She’s ready for it, though.”
“I think my team talks to her team sometimes, and I have met her a couple of times, so it has been really sweet,” added Biles.
She joins Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera on the US women’s gymnastics team, which will compete at the Olympics this summer.
Jocelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong have both been named as travelling alternates.
The women’s gymnastics events will take place from July 28 to August 10.
