Simone Biles leg got hurts in Olympic gymnastics qualifying but finishes 1st anyway

PARIS (AP) — The uncanny resemblance was unmistakable, almost serendipitous, in the birthplace of déjà vu.

Simone Biles seated on the side lines at the Olympics, accompanied by USA Gymnastics team physician Marcia Faustin, both wearing expressions of concern. The scene mirrored an incident three years ago in Tokyo, where Biles withdrew from multiple finals to safeguard her well-being, sparking a global dialogue on mental health.

However, Biles is resolute in crafting a different narrative in Paris. The 27-year-old American icon wasn’t grappling with any mental block or trauma this time but rather a more typical issue for gymnasts, especially those with two decades of experience.

Just like in Tokyo, Biles and Faustin briefly vanished. Unlike Tokyo, Biles re-emerged, not in a sweat suite but with her left leg heavily taped after tweaking her calf during a floor exercise warm-up. She spent the rest of the afternoon limping noticeably, except when on the competition floor.

The athlete who has been adamant that this isn’t 2021 demonstrated her point on Sunday in the star-studded Bercy Arena. She shook off what U.S. coach Cecile Landi described as a minor calf issue, posting the highest score in the all-around and leaving any lingering ghosts from Tokyo in the past.

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Biles scored 59.566, comfortably ahead of reigning Olympic champion and teammate Sunisa Lee. She acknowledged the crowd after her dismount on the uneven bars, her final event, before hopping off the podium and dancing with close friend Jordan Chiles. Her pursuit of gold continues in Tuesday’s team final and Thursday’s individual all-around.

Simone Biles :

“It was pretty amazing, 59.5,” Landi remarked. “Not perfect, so she can still improve, but it was really good.”

Landi mentioned that the issue arose a couple of weeks ago and described it as minor. There was no discussion of Biles withdrawing.

Instead, Landi and her husband, Laurent—long-time personal coaches to Biles in Texas—encouraged her to take a deep breath and continue. Laurent applied heavy tape to her leg.

“We reminded her that she’s capable” Landi said. “She knows she can do it, and she did. So, we’re really excited for her.”

The injury didn’t seem to hinder her. Biles recorded the highest scores on floor and vault—both after the injury—as she seeks to add to her seven Olympic medals.

Biles may skip the uneven bars final, where she chose not to attempt a unique skill she submitted to the International Gymnastics Federation on Friday. She can still decide to perform it during the team final, potentially getting it entered into the sport’s Code of Points with her name attached.

Yet, this seemed far from Biles’ mind as she finished her bars routine. There was a mix of relief and an eagerness to savor the moment after her dismount, possibly marking the final competition of her unparalleled career.

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Her teammates shared similar sentiments, as the heavily favored Americans finished at 172.296, over five points ahead of second-place Italy (166.861), in their quest for what they call “redemption” following a second-place finish to Russia three years ago.

“They’re happy and relieved,” Landi said. “Day 1 is done; now we move on to the team finals, all-around finals, and hopefully a few event finals.”

Landi noted that Biles’ leg improved as the competition progressed, and she expects Biles to be available moving forward.

The truth is, the Americans—especially with Russia out of the picture due to the war in Ukraine—don’t need to rely on her as much as they have in previous Games.

Biles, Lee, and Chiles went 1-2-3 in the all-around during early qualifying, though Chiles will miss the all-around final due to rules limiting each country to two athletes per competition.

Chiles has a chance to qualify for the floor exercise final if she finishes in the top eight. Lee is almost certain to make the beam and bars finals, with 2020 floor exercise champion Jade Carey well-positioned to join Biles in the vault final.

That is, of course, if Biles remains healthy.

The injury added an element of drama to an event that has become a must-see for athletes and celebrities alike.

The stands were abuzz, filled with stars. Tom Cruise took selfies while waiting for Biles to appear. Snoop Dogg had front-row seats, and Ariana Grande, Jessica Chastain, John Legend, and Anna Wintour were also in attendance.

Biles arrived in Paris as the face of the U.S. Olympic movement, perhaps even the Olympics themselves. The buzz around her return to the Games has been palpable, with NBC heavily promoting her star power in the lead-up to Paris.

Her gravitational pull is undeniable. Athletes across the Olympic spectrum have expressed a desire to witness the most decorated gymnast of all time in action. Among them: LeBron James and the U.S. men’s basketball team, who were busy with their Olympic opener on Sunday.

James and his teammates might have a chance to see Biles later this week, provided her calf holds up—a significant uncertainty in a sport with an almost 100% injury rate.

Biles has managed to avoid major physical setbacks for the last 11 years, a rarity in a career as lengthy and decorated as hers.

For now, Biles remains in the running for a golden farewell, even if she has to take it one careful step at a time.