U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials: Simone Biles takes first place in the all-around competition

CNN
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Reigning world champion Simone Biles finished first in the standings after the first night of competition at the 2024 U.S. Olympic gymnastics qualifying events on Friday in Minneapolis.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist finished with a total score of 58.900. Jordan Chiles is in second place with 56.400 points and Suni Lee is in third place with 56.025 points ahead of Sunday night’s final of the events.

Biles began her evening on the uneven bars, scoring a 14.425. In her second rotation on the balance beam, the 27-year-old looked unusually wobbly, nearly falling off her horse and then skipping a little on her dismount. She earned a 13.650 and finished in second place.

For reference, Biles earned identical scores of 14.800 in both of her attempts at the USA Gymnastics Championships four weeks ago, when she won her ninth all-around title.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist then dazzled with her floor routine, landing the Biles II — one of several skills named after her — on her third rotation. She earned a score of 14.850 for her impressive performance, placing her in first place.

Biles closed out the night in style, receiving a standing ovation after performing Yurchenko’s gravity-defying double pike on the vault, earning a score of 15.975.

Biles, who became the most decorated gymnast ever at last year’s world championships, is one of 16 women and 20 men competing for a spot on the U.S. team in Paris.

The victory at the US Championships, in which she received the highest cumulative scores in the four events, underlined Biles’ dominance ahead of the Paris Olympics, three years after she withdrew from the Tokyo Games due to ‘the twisties’ – a mental block that causes gymnasts to lose their posture.

After the championships, Biles said she enjoyed her gymnastics and had “no stress or anxiety.”

Five gymnasts make up the women’s team on the way to the Olympic Games in Paris. The winner of the all-round competition will automatically receive a place, while the other four will be chosen by a three-person selection committee.

Biles is aiming to become the fourth American woman to compete in three Olympic Games, marking her successful return to the sport after taking a long break to focus on her mental health.