Simone Biles is limping, but still holding strong through Paris Olympics gymnastics qualifications.
The gymnastics superstar, 27, tweaked her ankle during floor exercise warmups on Sunday, July 28 and briefly left with Dr. Marcia Faustin, the U.S. gymnastics team doctor. Biles returned soon after with her ankle taped up and a slight limp, but went on to complete her floor, vault and uneven bar events without issue.
After her final apparatus, the uneven bars, the heavily American crowd erupted in cheers as Biles grinned and chest bumped with teammate and close friend Jordan Chiles.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist finished the all-around qualification round with the highest overall score of the day so far, 59.566. Teammate Suni Lee finished second overall just behind Biles, at 56.132. Chiles ended in third with 56.065, though just two from each country can advance to the all-around final.
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The U.S. topped the team standings after the first two rounds of qualifications, with two more to go.
Along with the top three Americans, fellow Team USA gymnasts Jade Carey and 16-year-old Hezly Rivera competed, with Carey, 24, likely to compete in the vault. She stood at second overall in the vault as of 7 a.m. ET, behind Biles.
Carey had a tough outing on the floor, falling backwards and nearly off the platform after one of her tumbling passes.
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Rivera looked shaky on her balance beam routine, but pulled out a stronger uneven bars event. She did not qualify for individual events but will compete in the team final on Tuesday with the rest of Team USA.
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Along with the stars on the mats, the stands were filled with celebrities, including Ariana Grande, Tom Cruise, Cynthia Erivo, Lady Gaga and Snoop Dogg. Cruise waved to the crowd during one pause in competition and smiled as the arena played the Mission Impossible theme song.
The qualification round on Sunday was Biles’ big return to Olympic competition after the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, when Biles withdrew from some events, including the team final and the individual all-around final. She spent two years away from gymnastics working on her mental health, before getting back into the sport in 2023 and winning World Championships.
Biles has been sharing snapshots of life in the Olympic Village since her arrival in Paris, where the entire team is staying after opting to live in hotels during the Tokyo Games. She posted photos on July 27 from podium training, writing, “practice practice practice.”
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Biles and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team will next compete on Tuesday, July 30 beginning at 12:15 pm ET.
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