Simone Biles’ dazzling start to the 2024 Summer Olympics has been tempered by the Team USA gymnast requiring heavy strapping to a left ankle problem which caused the six-time world champion to limp.
Watched by a huge crowd and a legion of photographers, Biles began her campaign at Paris’ Bercy Arena, where the 27-year-old started with an exquisite beam routine and registered a huge score of 14.600 for her floor routine.
Biles’ beam score of 14.733 was even larger but there was concern when the gymnastics great was clearly impained and re-emerged having been treated.
SIMONE BILES 🤩💫
She is back, and she is back with a bang! 👏👏👏#BBCOlympics #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/DwWWiQTfSq
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 28, 2024
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Is Simone Biles injured?
“She took about four seconds during that floor to lay on the floor, which raised my eyebrows,” three-time Olympic Games medallist Louis Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Then she took a seat on the step. She is definitely limping and may be working her way through a little niggle. She waved to the crowd and I think that could be a psychological compensation to say everything is alright.”
There was little sign of the issue troubling Biles on her ensuing vault, though, when she completed one of the moves named after her – featuring a Yurchenko double pike – for a score of 15.800.
She came through the uneven bars routine with a tally of 14.433 to complete a memorable return following her experience at the 2020 Olympic Games in 2021, when she collected a relatively modest bronze in balance beam and silver in the team competition, having withdrawn from parts of the programme to protect her mental health.
Vault: conquered! 🤩
No twisties this time for Simone Biles 💪#BBCOlympics #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/2AcoZYOvZ0
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 28, 2024
Olympics: Simone Biles ‘incredible’
“If there was an injury there, you would never know,” Smith said after Biles’ vault. “That is absolutely through the roof. That is incredible.”
Posting on social media before the action began, Team USA said Biles, who won four gold medals and a bronze at the 2016 Games, is the greatest of all time in her discipline.
She is outright favourite to win the floor and all-around events, while Team USA are firm odds-on favourites to triumph in the team competition.
LOVE these celebrations 😎
Simone Biles has had a sensational return to the #Olympics! #BBCOlympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/p26f5RVdaR
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 28, 2024
Simone Biles husband
Jonathan Owens, Biles’ husband, has taken five days away from the NFL team he plays for, the Chicago Bears, to support his spouse.
“When she’s on the floor or the beam, I just know how long you work for it and how much you put into it,” Owens told AP. “When you see someone out there – I don’t know, I can’t describe it. We’re just out there holding our breath.”
