Biles secures Olympic spot in Paris with convincing victory in US all-round trial

Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles is heading to the Paris Games after scoring a resounding victory at the US gymnastics qualifiers on Sunday.

Biles concluded her ordeal with another thrilling floor routine, with her high jumps bringing the crowd to their feet.

She scored 117,225 points in two days of competition, earning an automatic spot on the five-person team that will go to Paris later this month.

Three years after Biles’ Tokyo Olympics run was ended by the confusing “twisties,” the gymnast considered the greatest of all time will return to the Olympic stage stronger than ever.

The 27-year-old told a jubilant crowd in Minneapolis that she “never imagined going to another Olympics” in the immediate aftermath of Tokyo.

“I never thought I would go back to the gym, spin and feel free,” said Biles, who returned to competition last August after a two-year hiatus.

She will be joined in Paris by three other members of the Tokyo Olympic team: all-around gold medalist Suni Lee, floor gold medalist Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, who helped the US to team silver.

The quartet – who are joined by 16-year-old Hezly Rivera – have labeled the Paris Olympics as their redemption tour.

“I feel like we all have more to offer and our performance in Tokyo was not optimal,” said Biles, who withdrew from the team final at the pandemic-postponed Games.

“I feel like there’s a lot of weight on our shoulders to go out there and prove that we’re better athletes.

“We are more mature, smarter and more consistent, but don’t quote me on that, because not tonight!” she laughed after Biles, Lee and Chiles all fell off the balance beam on the final night of the trials.

The always tense trials became an even more nervous affair when three top contenders were forced out of the competition through injury.

Skye Blakely tore an Achilles tendon in training on Wednesday and Shilese Jones hurt her left knee during a warm-up jump on Friday, minutes before Tokyo Olympic alternate Kayla DiCello was found to have an Achilles injury during the opening jump of the trials.

The injuries left everyone confused, but with less than a month before the gymnastics competition starts in Paris, Biles was confident the team will be at its best.

“If we can just do what we do in training, I think we’ll come out on top,” said Biles, who has captured world all-around gold and her eighth and ninth national titles since returning to competition last summer.

Biles started her evening with a spectacular version of her Yurchenko double corner jump. Although she jumped back a few steps upon landing, she scored 15.50 points for a jump so difficult that no other woman had ever attempted it in a competition.

After a subpar balance beam performance on the first day clearly infuriated her, Biles was in the middle of an impressive routine when she lost her balance and fell off — still scoring an impressive 13.900.

– Never give up –

Lee, who returned to the Olympics after not one but two career-ending kidney ailments, finished second with 111.675 points.

It was a triumphant and emotional evening for Lee in front of ecstatic fans in her home state of Minnesota.

“I’m so glad I never gave up,” she said.

“There were so many times when I thought about just quitting and leaving the sport because I didn’t think I would ever get to this point.”

Chiles placed third, Carey fourth and Rivera fifth in the all-around. It was an exciting wait for the four behind Biles, who were appointed to the team by the selection committee after about half an hour of deliberation.

Rivera was buoyed by a strong showing on the balance beam, ending her night with a solid vault to beat 18-year-old Joscelyn Roberson for the final spot.

All eyes in Paris, however, are on Biles, who travels to France as the heavy favorite to secure another gold medal, adding to the four gold medals she won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

“I love these girls and I’m going to take care of them in Paris,” Biles said.

bb/pst