Simone Biles is dominating the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, as she aims for a record ninth U.S. all-around championship ahead of the Paris Olympics. With a 3.4-point lead over her nearest competitor, Biles wowed the crowd on the vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise, showcasing her incredible talent and skills. She even reintroduced a “Biles” skill, a triple-twisting double flip, in her routine for the 2024 season. Despite strong performances from Skye Blakely, Kayla DiCello, Suni Lee, and Leanne Wong, Biles maintained her dominance throughout the first day of competition.
Suni Lee, the reigning Olympic all-around champion, made a compelling case for the Paris team as she battled through kidney issues to finish fourth in the all-around at the U.S. Championships. Despite struggling on the balance beam, Lee excelled on the uneven bars, posting a strong routine that she hopes to further elevate at the Olympic Trials. Unfortunately, Shilese Jones withdrew from the Championships due to a shoulder injury, but plans to petition to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Gabby Douglas also withdrew after suffering a season-ending ankle injury, ending her hopes of making her third Olympic team.
The national champions in the all-around and on each apparatus will be determined on Sunday, along with the qualifiers for the Olympic Trials. The top two finishers in the all-around competition at the U.S. Championships will automatically advance to the Trials, where the final team for the Paris Olympics will be named. In addition to these automatic qualifiers, at least 10 more women will be selected by a committee to join the Olympic Trials. If Simone Biles secures a spot on the U.S. Olympic team for Paris, she will make history as the first American woman since Dominique Dawes to compete in three Olympic Games.
Simone Biles’ performance at the Core Hydration Classic earlier this season was a testament to her continued dominance in the sport. After a successful outing at the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, where she won her sixth individual all-around title and led the U.S. women to victory in the team competition, Biles is poised to make a strong statement at the Paris Olympics. Fans can catch the action live on Sunday as the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships air on NBC and Peacock, with streaming options available on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Biles’ pursuit of another U.S. all-around championship and a spot on the Olympic team adds excitement and anticipation to the competition.
