What more do you need to get hyped up for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris than seeing America’s foremost gymnast, Simone Biles, show off her impeccable form in slow motion?
Usually the peak for gymnasts comes in their teens, so it’s kind of wild that Biles is still considered the best in the world at age 27. She took a two-year hiatus, and even got the so-called “twisties” at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which is another way of saying the gymnast’s version of the yips. Biles pulled herself out of competition, citing mental health, but the twisties is where a gymnast loses their spatial awareness and can’t stick the landing on aerial stunts.
Looks like all those demons are in the rearview mirror for Biles between her gold medal performance at the 2023 World Championships and the form she’s showing in practice sessions:
Simone Biles, cleared for takeoff. ✈️ #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/I32IVlvmiR
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 25, 2024
Wanna see this in actual-motion? It’s breathtaking.
Simone Biles 🇺🇸 just STUCK a Yurchenko double pike vault in Women's Podium Training.
#Paris2024 #Gymnastics pic.twitter.com/YycssPN2HF
— EXECUTIVE MEDIA (@EXECUTIVEXMEDIA) July 25, 2024
Biles is probably at peace with her career now that she’s successfully roared back and racked up more accolades in addition to qualifying for Team USA in Paris with ease. However, this is such a unique sports story.
How often do you hear of someone who goes from four gold medals in their first Olympics to becoming such a massive underdog? Then for Biles to deal with all those expectations, well outside the traditional prime of any given athlete in this sport, and reemerge as the beyond-reproach greatest after more or less retiring for a couple years? Can’t help but be wildly impressed with that.
She took a lot of heat for pulling out of events in Tokyo, but in the long run, Biles has endeared herself even more to the sports world. It’s great to see her in such excellent form before the action gets underway in Paris.
If you thought Biles’ double backflip situation on the vault was impressive, check her out on the balance beam.
Simone Biles putting in work at Podium Training. 🫡 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/Ju4Ubzbad6
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 25, 2024
Yeah, it’s on. ‘MERICA!!
