Simone Biles dazzles on Olympic gymnastics return at Paris 2024

Simone Biles wowed everyone with her performance at the Olympics after taking a break for three years due to the 'twisties'. She proved once again why she is the most awarded gymnast in the world.

The athlete from the United States, who has 37 medals from world championships and the Olympics, withdrew from multiple competitions at the Tokyo Games due to a challenging mental barrier. This left many questioning if she would return to competition. However, after taking a two-year break, she made a comeback and is now aiming for success at the Paris Games.

Since Tokyo, she had added even more world medals to her collection, showcased a new skill, and appeared well-prepared during her training sessions. However, as she stepped into the Bercy Arena amidst thunderous applause, surrounded by A-list celebrities in the audience and watched by millions around the world on TV, no one could predict what was to come.

However, we quickly discovered.

The performer started off with a graceful routine on the balance beam, followed by a high-energy performance on the floor that showcased one of her signature skills. She then executed a powerful vault known as the Biles II, but chose not to try out her new skill on the uneven bars.

She received a score of 59.566 and is currently leading in the overall standings with three more sections remaining. It is unlikely to change as that score would have been enough to win the last three World Championships.

However, there were some bumps along the way, as she needed to put on straps on her calf before her floor routine. She appeared to be in pain afterwards, walking with a slight limp. Despite this, she still managed to take the lead in the overall qualifying standings with three sub-divisions remaining.

After she finished her routine, you could see the happiness on her face as she waved to the crowd and embraced her teammates, showing just how much this moment meant to her.

The 27-year-old athlete will need to be patient until later in the day to learn which finals she has qualified for. However, things are looking promising for her team, all-around, vault, floor, and beam events.

Part two of women's gymnastics qualifying was the most popular event, with famous guests like rapper Snoop Dogg, actor Tom Cruise, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and singer Ariana Grande watching Biles at the arena.

It was appropriate that Biles started her day on the balance beam, which was the final event where she competed in Tokyo 2020. She won a touching bronze medal after choosing not to participate in her other individual events in order to prioritize her mental well-being.

The anticipation from the audience grew as she warmed up, making it feel like the actual event was happening. The photographers snapped photos non-stop, capturing every moment.

But she appeared unfazed - at least, from our perspective.

She confidently performed her acrobatic skills on the narrow 10cm equipment, flawlessly executing a triple spin and a challenging twisting dismount, earning a score of 14.733.

During her floor routine, she started with her signature move, the Biles II, which is a triple-twisting double somersault. Even though she briefly left the designated floor area, it didn't affect her score of 14.600 because her performance was filled with numerous difficult skills.

After taking a break and resting on a step, she worried that her left ankle might be starting to hurt. Despite this, she managed to make her way down the runway after a preliminary vault. She then confidently executed the Biles II move that she had famously created the year before. Although her performance was not as flawless as the one she had nailed during practice earlier in the week, she still received an impressive score of 15.800.

The reporter asked Coach Cecile Landi about Biles' injury, and she mentioned that Biles was only experiencing a slight discomfort in her calf.

The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the American gymnast prepared to perform on the uneven bars. Could she be on the verge of achieving a rare feat in gymnastics by having a skill named after her on all apparatuses, like hitting a grand slam in gymnastics skills?

However, she chose a safer routine that received a score of 14.433, which may not be high enough to qualify for the apparatus final.

There is a good chance she will have more chances in the team and all-around finals to attempt the new skill.

Another reason why she has left many people feeling excited about her future at these Games is her pursuit of adding to the seven Olympic medals she already has.

The USA team has been protecting Biles from added stress this week and she once again chose not to talk to reporters as she left the arena.

However, many other people had plenty of thoughts and opinions about what they saw.

"I'm thrilled to have her back, it's amazing that she's here to give us a new conclusion," Matt Baker expressed on BBC TV.

From my perspective, she is the top competitor at the Olympics right now. The scores will continue to show that Simone Biles is back in her rightful place.

Former gymnast Louis Smith commented: "She's proving why she's the top gymnast in the world. Despite the intense pressure, she remains unfazed."

"She is amazing. She is in fantastic condition. She is the Usain Bolt of this sport."

Becky Downie from the UK, who participated in the earlier round before Biles, mentioned to the press: "It's unlikely we'll see another athlete like Simone for a while - it's truly remarkable what she adds to the sport."

"I can't believe she is back."