Although the majority of athletes were present at the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, one of Team USA’s most decorated members, Simone Biles, appeared to miss out on the festivities.
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The wildly popular gymnast’s family shared the specific and understandable reason why she wasn’t at the event. “The first [gymnastics] competition is Sunday, which is women’s qualifier and, of course, she needs to rest up before that competition,” her mother, Nellie Biles, shared with Today’s Hoda Kotb on Friday, July 26.
As she prepares for her upcoming events at the 2024 Olympics, Simone Biles’ mom said the three-time Olympian is “feeling really good.”
“I spoke to her this morning and she’s doing great,” Nellie shared. “She’s just in a really good place.”
Simone Biles is competing at the 2024 Olympics with fellow Team USA women’s gymnastics members Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera.
She previously revealed that the 2024 Olympics are the team’s “redemption tour” following her 2020 Olympics “twisties” incident. “This is definitely our redemption tour. I feel like we all have more to give, and our Tokyo performances weren’t the best. But, I feel like we have a lot of weight on our shoulders to go out there and prove that we’re better athletes, we’re more mature, we’re smarter, we’re more consistent.”
Simone Biles then stated that the 2020 Olympics were a struggle. “We weren’t under the best circumstances either.”
Team USA’s Coach Says Simone Biles, Rest of the Gymnasts are ‘Breathing A Little Better’ After First Olympics’ Podium Training Session
Just before the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, Team USA women’s gymnastics coach Cecile Landi stated that Simone Biles and the rest of the teammates were breathing a bit better after the team’s first podium training session.
“The whole team, you know, [the vibe] is bright,” Landi said. “It’s the Olympic Games… The rings are everywhere, you know? So we feel much better. The girls feel good. We feel good.”
Landi also confirmed, “The whole team, they were excited to finally start. I think it’s been just, you know, a little bit dragging the whole… U.S. Championships, Trials, camp, all of that. We’re finally here. The arena is beautiful. The girls feel it. It’s like kind of cozy with the black seats, a big change from Tokyo. … The color scheme is awesome.”
She went on to add, “We really, really love it and feel like it’s calming. I don’t know, it’s weird, but that’s how it is.”