Simone Biles Officially Earns Roster Spot For Tokyo Olympics

Simone Biles has been a staple of gymnastics both in the United States and globally – she continued to build that strong repute by earning a spot in the Tokyo Olympics on the U.S. Gymnastics team.

Biles snagged one of just two automatic bids for the team during the Olympic trials in St. Louis. The four-time gold medalist at the 2016 games struggled a bit during her bar routine, then slipped off the beam and stepped out of bounds during her floor exercise. These mistakes put her second to Sunisa Lee on the day. Nevertheless, over the two-day evaluation period, Biles still maintained first, with Lee garnering the other automatic bid available to Tokyo hopefuls.

Biles had hoped the 2020 summer would be her final one competing, earning more medals before calling it a career. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic impeded that goal; begrudgingly, Biles continued to train for this summer. Part of that training was evidenced in Biles securing her seventh national women’s title in the U.S. Gymnastics Championship, which was then followed up by this recent selection to the Olympic team.

Biles has four moves named after her in the sport, and she hinted that another (possibly more) might be in store after Tokyo.

“There might be more actually,” Biles noted, a clear hint that the all-time great in gymnastics is not checked out just yet.

Article by David Metzger