The Core Hydration Classic, taking place in Hartford, features an unprecedented lineup of three Olympic all-around champions – Suni Lee, Simone Biles, and Gabby Douglas. This meet serves as the final qualification opportunity for the U.S. Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, with the ultimate goal being to make the five-member Paris Olympic team later this year. It is one of the key competitions that the selection committee will use to determine the members of the Olympic team, with the Olympic Trials in Minneapolis in June being the culminating event. Biles, fresh off her historic sixth individual all-around world title at the World Championships in October, will be competing for the first time since then, showcasing her talents on the road to Paris 2024.
Aside from the Olympic champions, eight additional Olympic and world championship medalists will be competing at the Core Hydration Classic. This includes athletes like Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Shilese Jones, and Konnor McClain, among others. The return of Gabby Douglas to competition after nearly eight years has also generated excitement, with a strong performance potentially solidifying her chances of making her third Olympic team. The gymnasts’ performances this weekend will play a significant role in determining their readiness for the upcoming U.S. Championships, leading to the selection of the Paris Olympic team members at the Olympic Trials in June.
Suni Lee, the reigning Olympic all-around champion, has made appearances at elite meets this year, showcasing her routines and skills. Despite a shaky start at the Winter Cup in February, she came back strong at the American Classic, winning the balance beam event. Lee has been teasing a major upgrade in her uneven bars routine, with the potential for a new skill that could further establish her legacy in the sport. However, she has been grappling with kidney issues since early last year, which impacted both her collegiate and elite careers. If she can replicate her success from the Tokyo Olympics, Lee could secure her spot on the Paris Olympic team based on her bars and beam performances.
The road to Paris 2024 for the U.S. gymnasts will culminate at the Olympic Trials in June, where the final selection for the Olympic team will take place. The athletes competing at the Trials will be determined based on their performances at the U.S. Championships, which will be preceded by events like the Core Hydration Classic. With a mix of seasoned veterans like Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, and rising stars like Suni Lee and Konnor McClain, the competition for a spot on the Olympic team promises to be intense and compelling. As the gymnasts aim to showcase their skills and earn their place on the international stage, fans will eagerly follow their journey towards Paris 2024.
