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Simone Biles returns: What are the US gymnast’s plans for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris?

The artistic gymnastics’ superstar returns for the first time since the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Reem Abdalazem
Reem Abdalazem
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The artistic gymnastics’ superstar returns for the first time since the Tokyo Olympic Games.
MIKE BLAKEREUTERS

Simone Biles, the renowned gymnast, is set to return to competition at the U.S. Classic on August 5th. This will be her first meet since the Tokyo Olympics. Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee, who also competed in Tokyo, is listed as well.

Biles has not disclosed any plans for a 2024 Olympic bid nor publicly shared any details about her return to training. The U.S. Classic serves as a key preparatory event for the U.S. Championships, scheduled for later in August.

While the seven-time Olympic medalist remained uncertain about a comeback last summer, she expressed her intention to be involved in the Paris Olympics in some capacity, whether as an athlete or in another role.

Biles is familiar with breaks

The 26-year-old from Ohio had also taken a break following the 2016 Rio Games. She resumed full-time training in November 2017 and made her competitive comeback in July 2018, ultimately winning the U.S. and world all-around titles that year.

Related: What is Simone Biles’ net worth?

While Biles seems to handle her comebacks with grace, it takes a lot for the body to get back to its peak in a sport like gymnastics. The core alignment, the conditioning, the balance, and the confidence come with a lot of repetition and muscle memory.

Aly Raisman, who took a break after the 2012 Olympics and had a successful return to competition for 2015 and 2016, said this spring that “gymnastics isn’t one of those sports you can just take off time and jump back into. It really takes a lot of conditioning. I remember like even doing a back flip for the first time the next day. I was so sore. I forgot how much every part of my body isn’t being used to flip and tumble around.”

Dominique Dawes, who competed in the 2000 Olympics, is the last U.S. female artistic gymnast to participate in three consecutive Olympic teams. Biles has competed at two Olympic Games, Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020.

In recent years, other American gymnasts who have won gold medals have also taken breaks from the sport following the Olympic Games and subsequently made comebacks.