The greatest gymnast of all time has once again secured her place in the Olympic Games. Simone Biles will be among six gymnasts that will make up the U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team. On Sunday, the 24-year-old, five-time Olympic champion, won first place in the two-day women’s Olympic trials in St. Louis, Missouri, ending with a total of 118.098. With her trip to Tokyo, Biles will try to become the first female gymnast in more than 50 years to win consecutive all-around Olympic golds.
Biles first went to the Summer Olympics in 2016, where she became the first African American woman to win four gymnastics gold medals in a single Olympic Games. In 2019, she returned to win five gold medals at the 2019 World Championships.
“I just can’t believe Olympic Trials is here again,” Biles told NBC’s Andrea Joyce. “I can’t believe I’m here again. It’s been a journey, and five years later we’re doing it again.”
Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Grace McCallum will make up the U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team. Also competing as individuals are MyKayla Skinner and Jade Carey. According to NBC Sports, Biles will be the only gymnast on the team with Olympic experience.
Watch Simone’s performance below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqigk7C8HQI]
Sunisa Lee
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQltTZfjHpu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Lee was the runner-up after Simone Biles with a 115.832. The 18-year-old Minnesota native is also making history. Her spot on the Olympics team will make her the first Hmong American at the Olympics.
“This means so much to me,” Lee said to NBC after the competition. “I’ve worked so hard the last couple of years, and to go out and do everything I was supposed to do feels amazing.” Lee will be attending Auburn University.
The 2020 Summer Olympics was postponed because of COVID-19. The Tokyo Summer Olympics begin on Friday, July 23, and last until Sunday, Aug. 8. The women’s gymnastics qualifications start Sunday, July 25, and the competition will continue through Tuesday, Aug. 3.
