- Simone Biles returned to Olympic competition this summer on Sunday
- In 2021, Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Games due to experiencing the twisties
- Despite another injury scare on Sunday, the American athlete showcased an impressive performance
Simone Biles made a remarkable return to Olympic competition on Sunday, overcoming an injury scare during the qualification event.
The 27-year-old athlete received a warm welcome, but appeared to sustain an injury during warm-ups for her floor routine and required medical attention, including tape applied to her lower left leg and ankle.
For a moment, it seemed uncertain whether she would complete her routine.
Biles demonstrated resilience by stretching her calf by jogging before executing a highly complex floor exercise, ultimately earning an impressive score of 14.6.
Despite her performance, Biles appeared subdued as she left the floor, opting to sit apart from her teammates on the steps leading from the performance area.
American Simone Biles made her first appearance at this summer’s Paris Olympics on Sunday
Biles was checked on by a doctor after appearing to suffer a calf injury at the Bercy Arena
The four-time Olympic champion was also seen with tape strapped around her left ankle
Biles executed a floor exercise of incredible complexity and was rewarded with a score of 14.6
She later performed the vault – which was the exercise that promoted her to pull out of Tokyo
Twenty-seven-year-old gymnastics icon Biles also competed on the uneven bars on Sunday
The tension mounted as she readied for the floor exercise, especially following a challenging performance by teammate Jade Carey.
Carey lost her balance and fell during her routine. Biles, during her first tumbling pass, misstepped and took a step off the floor—a signature move linked to her name—and after her second pass, stepped forward again. Even with a 0.1 point deduction for stepping off, it marked a significant return to the Olympic stage.
Following her routine, Biles received further medical attention before tackling the vault, the event that had caused her to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics. She was seen on the floor stretching her calf again before competing.
Biles has dealt with calf injuries in the past and could be heard during the broadcast stating, ‘As soon as I took off, I felt it. It’s right there on my calf. Right where I had that f***ing tear.’
