Prior to stepping up on the balance beam to compete in the public eye once again, Simone Biles gave herself a final silent pep talk. The stunning performance was expected to be nerve-wracking, especially given the roaring anticipation echoing throughout the Bercy Arena every time her name was mentioned. A number of famed personalities like Tom Cruise and Ariana Grande showed up to lend their support, their faces projected on the big screens.
Also, the order in which Biles and her US teammates were set to compete was not in their favour. The balance beam, renowned for being unpredictable and unforgiving of anxiety or doubt, was the first apparatus they were set to conquer. Anyone unable to manage their anxiety at such a time was bound to falter.
Yet, the formidable Biles, unshaken, completed a flawless and effective initial beam routine. Her successful start set the stage for an awe-inspiring comeback to the Olympic competition. Her dominating performance saw her emerge as the top all-around qualifier in her women’s subdivision with a score of 59.566, the highest international all-around score of the Olympic quad. Despite three more subdivisions due, everyone concurred that no one could surpass her scoring.
Leading the US team and with the top all-around score, Biles also owned the number one spot in the vault. She came in the second on the balance beam and led the floor exercises. She placed eighth on the uneven bars, an apparatus she wasn’t particularly strong on.
However, despite her stellar performance, Biles ended her initial day of competition nursing a calf injury, which caused visible unease during her time on the competition floor. Cécile Canqueteau-Landi, Biles’s coach, revealed later that her calf pain, which she had initially experienced a few weeks ago, had resurfaced during the competition. When questioned about her ability to compete further, Landi responded that Biles had no doubts whatsoever.
Throughout the second subdivision, among five in total, the American team faced a plethora of possible hurdles. Right before Simone Biles’ floor performance, Jade Carey, the current Olympic champion in that discipline, cut short her regular routine and opted out of her final tumbling act. Yet, right on the heels of her teammate, Biles managed to execute an outstanding floor routine with no trace of anxiety.
Biles had previously removed her triple twisting double back somersault – known as the Biles II – from her last year’s programme, but she managed to execute it comfortably this time around, displaying a touch of overconfidence as she took a minor step out of her boundary, all while maintaining a smile. Despite having scope for further improvement, Biles’ floor exercise record of 14.6 has only been equalled at an international level by Andrade in this Olympic rotation.
Gymnastics is a sport where the tide can turn in a flash, especially when there are injuries in the picture. This came to light when Biles appeared to be troubled while preparing for her vault. After a failed attempt, she had to hobble her way back to the start of the vault runway. Soon after, Biles appeared to have a fall when performing her Yurchenko Double Pike vault – also known as the Biles II.
Biles clearly demonstrated signs of discomfort, with her ankle and calf heavily strapped, yet she managed to display a cheerful disposition, communicating with her teammates and giving assurances about her well-being. Then she proceeded to dash down the runway and delivered an impressive Yurchenko double pike vault, a first for her in the Olympics. Biles’s second vault, the Cheng, was also commendable, ending with an average score of 15.3, surpassing any female competitor’s average score in this Olympic rotation.
After getting through a casual and straightforward uneven bar routine, Biles finally acknowledged her audience of 20,000, most of whom were there to watch her perform. With a laugh, she waved across the stadium and kick-started her redemption tour with an impressive performance.
The US Tokyo 2020 gymnastics team has seen three members compete alongside renowned gymnast, Simone Biles. These athletes comprise Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey, all of whom are seeking a higher achievement after clinching a silver medal three years prior. Lee’s participation in particular is worth noting due to her term as the Tokyo 2020 women’s all-around champion. Despite facing hardships, including a serious kidney affliction, and a short stint as a collegiate gymnast, 21-year-old Lee made her remarkable comeback in time for Paris, where her score of 56.132 places her second, trailing Biles. Additionally, Lee is also eligible to vie for medals in both the floor exercise and uneven bars. However, only two gymnasts from each country are permitted to compete in the all-around final, given that Chiles narrowly takes third place, falling short of Lee by just .067.
On another note, the first subdivision on Sunday demonstrated yet another inspiring return in the form of British gymnast, Becky Downie. Over the past triennium, Downie had to grapple with the abrupt loss of her younger sibling a day prior to her participation in the Tokyo Olympic trials, a backlash experienced by both her and her sister following accusations of misconduct within gymnastics, several significant injuries, as well as exemption from the Tokyo Olympic squad. Despite these tribulations, Downie maintained her resolve to pursue her ambition of securing an Olympic medal.
Downie rose to the occasion on Sunday morning, flawlessly performing her daunting bars routine and in turn earning a score of 14.666. The relief and delight were palpable as a tearful Downie stepped down from the competition podium, as she bides her time before receiving the verdict for the uneven bars finals. Meanwhile, the rest of the Great Britain female team have their sights set on qualifying for the team finals, despite experiencing a day fraught with challenges.