On the first day of competition at the 2024 Olympic Games, gymnast Simone Biles sustained a minor leg injury during warm-up. Despite this setback, she persevered and excelled in her routines, ultimately clinching the top spot.
Following the event, Biles’s coach, Cecile Landi, played down the seriousness of the injury, stating that Biles only felt a slight discomfort in her calf.
Despite the injury, Biles achieved impressive scores, notably a competition-high 15.8 on the vault. Alongside stellar performances from her teammates, this secured a spot for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team in the team all-around final on Tuesday, where they are favored to win gold. The individual all-around final is scheduled for Thursday.
Landi reassured that there are currently no concerns regarding Biles’s ability to compete in these upcoming events.
During a warm-up for the floor exercise, which was her second event of the evening, Biles appeared to sustain an injury to her leg. Following a landing from a pass, she exited the mat with caution and conferred with her coaches before briefly leaving the competition area. Upon her return, she had her ankle and lower calf secured with substantial athletic tape.
In spite of the injury, Biles proceeded to perform her subsequent routines, achieving a notable score of 15.8 on the vault. According to Landi, there was “never in her mind” any doubt regarding her decision to continue.
Expectations for Biles and the rest of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team are extremely high at this Olympic Games in Paris.
Biles, 27, has been excelling at the peak of her career since she made a comeback to competition last year following a two-year break. She is widely seen as the frontrunner to secure at least three individual gold medals, in addition to a team all-around gold for the U.S.
However, any potential injury could hinder these ambitions. “First and foremost, my main concern is ensuring her physical well-being, and then we will proceed accordingly,” stated women’s team technical lead Chellsie Memmel. “Her ability to perform, despite appearing to have some discomfort or issue in her lower leg, is truly remarkable.”
Earlier this month, Biles had a brief problem with her calf, as disclosed by Landi. “It subsided after that. Then resurfaced a bit today,” Landi mentioned. “Just a slight discomfort in her calf.”
The U.S. women’s team completed their round of qualifications by securing the top spot in the team rankings. Gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Sunisa Lee, the reigning gold medalist in the individual all-around, both ended up approximately 3.5 points behind Biles.
“It is quite evident that their aim is to return with a gold medal,” Memmel stated.
During three of Sunday’s rounds, Biles was the final performer. Consequently, while her competitors took breaks, she captured the undivided attention of a crowd of around 15,000, many of whom — including celebrities Snoop Dogg, Tom Cruise, and Anna Wintour — had primarily come to witness her performance.
