Simone Biles competed in her first gymnastics competition since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and after winning, she explained how she’s coming back on her terms.
Celebrity
“You kind of have to take that mental break.”
One of the biggest stories leading into the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 was Simone Biles and her seemingly inevitable victories. Pundits suggested the greatest gymnast of all time could win up to six Olympic medals to go with the five she won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Instead, the then-24-year-old had to pull out of five finals and much of the world learned about “the twisties” for the first time.
Now, two years later, Biles is back. The celebrated gymnast returned to competition at the 2023 Core Hydration Classic, a qualifier event for the U.S. Championships that will be held in August. Not only did she prove that she’s still got it by handily winning the all-around competition (and having the top score on three out of the four apparatuses), she spoke out afterward about the work she’s been doing to care for her mental health.
