Five Paris Olympics storylines to know from security to Simone Biles
The Paris Olympics are fast approaching. Here’s what you need to know about the first post-pandemic Games.
The decision is in, and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team for the 2024 Paris Olympics has been finalized.
Simone Biles is on it, of course. She is heavily favored to win her second all-around Olympic gold medal, and tasked with leading the Americans to another team victory at the Games. The U.S. women have won two of the past three team golds, and their chief rival − Russia − has been barred from competing in team competitions.
Biles will be joined on the team by a few of her Olympic teammates from 2021 − and one notable newcomer. Here’s a complete breakdown of the team.
Simone BilesAge: 27Height: 4′ 8″Hometown: Spring, TexasBest event(s): Floor exercise, vault, balance beamWhat more is there to say about Biles? The greatest gymnast of her generation is back for a third trip to the Summer Games, where she will look to add to the seven Olympic medals − including four golds − she has already won. After coming back from a bout of the “twisties” in Tokyo, she has not just looked like her old self over this past year − in many ways, it appears she’s gotten even better. It would not be a surprise if she matches her performance from last year’s world championships, where she won four golds and a silver, at the Paris Games.Suni LeeAge: 20Height: 5′ 0″Hometown: Saint Paul, MinnesotaBest event(s): Balance beam, uneven barsWhat to know: Lee is the reigning all-around Olympic champion and, like Biles, she is in the midst of a comeback. After competing collegiately at Auburn, she was diagnosed with a pair of kidney ailments that caused her body to retain fluids and hindered her ability to train. It took her several months of adjusting medication before she was able to return to the gym, and she has only recently been back at full strength in all-around competition. Despite her time away from the sport, Lee remains one of the world’s best − particularly on uneven bars, where her scores sometimes eclipse Biles’.Jordan ChilesAge: 23Height: 4′ 11″Hometown: Vancouver, WashingtonBest event(s): Uneven bars, floor exerciseWhat to know: At one point, it looked like Chiles might be left on the outside of the Olympic picture. But the 2021 Olympic team veteran has come on strong over the past few weeks, with decent scores at nationals and a particularly brilliant showing on the first day of the Olympic trials. Chiles, who competed colleigately at UCLA, is a longtime training partner and friend of Biles’ who always brings energy and positive vibes to the gym. She’s capable of not just filling in but contributing on any apparatus and is expected to play a key role for the team in Paris.Jade CareyAge: 24Height: 5′ 2″Hometown: Phoenix, ArizonaBest event(s): Vault, floor exerciseWhat to know: Yet another veteran of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she won gold on floor exercise, Carey went on to compete collegiately at Oregon State before returning to the elite circuit ahead of Paris. She’s struggled at times − including a 15th-place finish at the 2023 national championships − but shown steady improvement in recent months, including at trials. Carey will likely be counted on to deliver big scores on floor exercise and vault.Hezly RiveraAge: 16Hometown: Oradell, New JerseyBest event(s): Balance beam, uneven barsWhat to know: Of the five members on this team, Rivera probably comes as the biggest surprise. The 2023 U.S. junior champion has adapted quickly to the senior level, finishing sixth in the all-around at the national championships earlier this month. This is her first year at the senior level, so she doesn’t have a ton of international experience. But there’s plenty of experience on the team, so she can learn without a lot of pressure being on her directly.
Source link : https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/06/30/us-womens-gymnastics-team-simone-biles/74260970007/
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Publish date : 2024-06-30 23:00:11
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