Three-time Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas struggled at the U.S. Classic, a key Olympic qualifying event, falling twice on the uneven bars before withdrawing from the remaining events. This means she will not qualify for the all-around at the U.S. Championships. Douglas, who took time away from the sport before returning to training last year, had hoped to secure her spot on the team heading to Paris this summer. The Olympic trials are set to begin at the end of June.
On the other hand, superstar Simone Biles showed her readiness for Paris at the U.S. Classic, posting an all-around score of 59.500, nearly two points ahead of the runner-up, Shilese Jones. Biles excelled in vault and floor exercise and placed second in uneven bars and balance beam. Despite a few errors, such as taking big steps on her vault dismount and landing out of bounds on the triple-double, Biles remains the standard in the sport due to her combination of difficulty and precision. Biles is considered a virtual lock to make the U.S. Olympic team if she remains healthy.
The big question over the next six weeks is who will join Biles in France. Jones impressed on the bars and performed well across all events. Sunisa Lee, the reigning Olympic champion, has been dealing with kidney issues that have impacted her training. Her elegant beam routine earned her a score slightly higher than Biles at the U.S. Classic. Jordan Chiles, a 2020 Olympic silver medalist, finished third in the all-around competition, while Jade Carey, who won gold on floor in Tokyo, placed fourth. Konnor McClain, the reigning U.S. champion, had to exit the competition due to an Achilles injury sustained during warm-ups.
Biles expressed her joy at being back on the competition floor and was happy with her performance at the U.S. Classic. She showcased some of her signature skills, including the Yurchenko double pike on vault and a tumbling pass that ended with a triple-twisting double-flip. Despite some mistakes, Biles delivered a strong performance, demonstrating her readiness for the upcoming Olympic trials and, potentially, the Paris Olympics. With her consistent excellence in the sport, Biles is well-positioned to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for Paris, pending her continued health and performance in the trials.
