The upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics are quickly approaching, and for American female gymnasts like Simone Biles, a global superstar, the Core Hydration Classic on Saturday marks their initial effort in securing a spot at the Summer Games.
Simone Biles commences journey toward Paris at Core Hydration Classic event.
Incredibly, three Olympic all-around champions will be part of the field for the very first time, as Gabby Douglas and Sunisa Lee – who earned gold in 2012 and 2021 respectively – join Simone Biles at the competition in Hartford, Connecticut.
In the last time these three ladies went up against each other eight years ago at the national championships, Biles came out on top while Douglas finished fourth and Lee was in 10th place in the juniors.
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Since then, all three women have achieved significant success but have encountered their own challenges, adding a sense of comeback to their quest for qualification for the Paris Olympics.
Despite the intense competition, Biles is still the main draw. She stepped back from several events at the Tokyo Games due to what doctors call “the twisties” – a psychological barrier that causes a gymnast to lose track of their position during flight. However, Biles is now determined to add to her collection of seven Olympic medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Biles earned a bronze in the balance beam in Tokyo but took a break from gymnastics after the Games before returning to the sport last year. Since her return, she’s won four gold medals, along with a silver, at the world championships and surpassed Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo’s record of 33 overall medals in both the Olympics and world championships.
Now, Biles begins the process of qualifying for the Paris Olympics at the Core Hydration Classic. The last chance to secure a spot is at the national championships in June, where the top performers will be selected for the Olympic Trials.
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Douglas, on the other hand, is making her second competitive appearance since the 2016 Rio Olympics, ten months after announcing her return to the sport. Douglas began missing gymnastics after watching the US national championships in 2022 and decided to resume training. “Now I can’t believe I’m in this sport again,” she told NBC News Now.
Lee has also taken extended periods away from the gym since her Olympic win three years ago. She faced the threat of kidney disease, but treatment enabled her to manage the condition and aim for Paris.
Biles has been an inspiration for Lee, who shared her thoughts with Reuters last month. “She’s a very open person about her mental health,” Lee said, “and she’s helped me become more open about my own mental health journey.”
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In addition to Douglas and Lee, Biles will be competing against 13 other medalists from the Olympics, World Championships, and/or Pan American Games this weekend, including Tokyo Olympic floor champion Jade Carey and six-time world championship medalist Shilese Jones.
How to watch
Biles competes in the second session of the senior women’s competition from 7-9 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 18, alongside other gymnasts with Olympic or World Championship experience. The first session, from 2-4 p.m. ET, features the rest of the senior gymnasts.
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Fans can watch the first senior session live on the USA Gymnastics YouTube channel. The second session, featuring Biles, Douglas, and Lee, airs on CNBC and Peacock. NBC will also air a recap show on Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. ET.
