Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee to return to competition, with 2024 in their sights
Riley Smith
The U.S. Classic in Indianapolis will be more than just another gymnastics meet this weekend. It will be a historic moment for two Olympic champions who are making their comeback after a year-long hiatus.
Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee, who won gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will return to competition for the first time since then, with an eye on the 2024 Paris Games.
Biles, who is widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, withdrew from several events in Tokyo due to mental health issues and a case of "the twisties," a phenomenon that causes gymnasts to lose their sense of orientation in mid-air.
She later revealed that she was also dealing with the death of her aunt and the trauma of being a survivor of sexual abuse by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
Despite her struggles, Biles managed to win a bronze medal on the balance beam, adding to her team silver and her record-breaking seven Olympic medals overall.
Lee, who stepped into the spotlight after Biles' withdrawal, won the all-around gold medal, becoming the first Hmong American to do so. She also won a silver medal with the team and a bronze medal on the uneven bars.
The 18-year-old said she was inspired by her father, who was paralyzed from the chest down after falling from a ladder in 2019, and by her community in Minnesota, which faced racism and violence amid the pandemic and the protests over George Floyd's death.
Both Biles and Lee took a break from gymnastics after Tokyo, focusing on their mental and physical health, as well as their college plans. Biles enrolled at the University of Florida, while Lee joined Auburn University.
They also participated in a nationwide tour with other gymnasts, showcasing their skills and celebrating their achievements.
But they never lost sight of their ultimate goal: to compete in Paris and make history again.
Biles, who will be 27 by then, said she wants to challenge herself and push the boundaries of her sport. She has already performed several skills that no other woman has ever done, such as a double-twisting double backflip on the floor and a double-twisting double backflip off the balance beam.
Lee, who will be 21 by then, said she wants to continue her legacy and inspire others. She also hopes to improve her skills on the vault and floor, which are her weaker events.
Both gymnasts have been training hard for their comeback, posting videos and photos of their progress on social media. They have also received support and encouragement from their fans, teammates and coaches.
They will face a strong field of competitors at the U.S. Classic, which is a qualifier for the U.S. Championships in June and the U.S. Olympic Trials in July.
Among them are Jade Carey, who won gold on the floor exercise in Tokyo; Jordan Chiles, who was part of the silver-winning team; Grace McCallum, who also won team silver; MyKayla Skinner, who won silver on the vault; and Laurie Hernandez, who won gold with the team and silver on the balance beam in Rio 2016.
The U.S. Classic will be broadcast live on NBC on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
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