Simone Biles cruises to 9th national title

Associated Press

03/06/2024

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — There used to be a time when Simone Biles would find “beauty in the blindness” ahead of the Olympics, reveling in not knowing what she didn’t know.

It was a long time ago. It was back when she was just an teen. Still a little “ditzy.”

The days of a marriage are over. The proof isn’t only on Biles drivers’ licenses or marriage certificate, but in how she can be able to see beyond her own. The tunnel vision most top athletes use to pursue their dreams of excellence has dissolved.

Perhaps that’s the most significant difference between the title that the gymnastics superstar took home on Sunday nightthe ninth time she has won it winning title, this one with an all-around score of 119.750 -and her first win more than a decade ago.

The moment that defined Biles his victory wasn’t the twist, turn, or even a jump however, it was an easy walk.

It was early in the morning the morning of when Biles was watching the 2020 Olympic champion and close buddy Sunisa Lee spin awkwardly in the air during her vault. Biles she fell on her back in a state of shock and fear forming on her face.

“I was thinking this was the end of the story,” Lee said.

Then Biles came to her side, completely unaffected. She knew precisely where Lee was at that time more than anyone else.

Three years ago, during the Tokyo Games, a similar wrong-headed vault by Biles set off a series of events that eventually led to her pulling out of numerous events and also bringing the debate about Mental health to the front and the front and.

While watching Lee who has had to endure much of the past two years fighting kidney issues that caused her weight-yo-yo and impeded her training, struggle to get her back together, Biles left her World Champions Centre teammates and offered Lee the same kind of support Biles was so dependent on when she was in Japan.

“I understand how traumatic it can be, particularly when you’re on a stage like that,” Biles said. “And I did not want her to be in her head which is why we sat and discussed the issue.”

The two left the floor to discuss their differences, with Biles making a point of reminding Lee she “could perform difficult things.”

As they returned, Biles stood next to the uneven bars, cheering Lee on. Lee then rebounded with a stunning (if slightly watered down) routine that earned her 14.500 as well as helped her get to an impressive fourth.

“I knew I was having a difficulties and she was there to help me get upwards,” Lee said.

Biles has reached a point in her remarkable career when the pleasure she receives from the sport isn’t only based on the level she performs.

Although she joked that believes she’s “aging as fine wine” it’s clear that she kept her most dazzling smile when she spoke about the five World Champions Centre teammates -the majority of whom are older than her — who will be with her in the Olympic tests in Minneapolis later in the month.

“That’s something that really makes me happy because I think they’ve got long careers to come,” Biles said. “So should I be able to assist them in any way today as well in the near future I’ll try be doing.”

It’s her way to give back. She’s well aware of the attention she will receive on her at Paris and is working to provide a model for others to deal with the rigors that lie ahead. She’s been a regular participant in therapy -and at times even during the week of meetings as well as determined to stay focused on the things she can control.

As an example her gymnastics.

In the presence of an audience that included her husband Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, Biles put on a four-rotation show that had all the hallmarks of the normal Biles performance. It was jaw-dropping athleticism mingled with precision, and more than the occasional attitude.

Biles had the best two-day mark across all four events. This was which she had only done once prior to the national championships (2018).

The only error she made was on the vault. She fell short of the Yurchenko double pike that involved two back flips while hands resting behind her knees during warm-ups. She also overcompensated when it mattered, creating such force that she ended into a back roll. However, she still earned an 15.000 for her efforts and is a tribute to a vault which hasn’t been done in competition by a woman, and is only performed by a select group males.

The fact that she was not upset by it did not bother her. Biles recovered herself and took a few deep breaths, and then stepped with with a Cheng vault that was awarded with an 15.1 and put her ninth title in the bag. There is no other athletics athlete from the U.S. has more than seven titles.

While Biles is still ahead of the pack as always, there’s plenty of competition for the remaining four places for the 5 woman U.S. team that will go to Paris as the heavy favorites to be back at on top of the table after finishing second behind Russia in Tokyo three years ago.

Skye Blakely, 19, delivered another performance that was impressive and will be heading to Minneapolis with plenty of confidence. After three years since her attempt to be a part of an appearance on 2020’s Olympic team was thwarted by an illness, Blakely is peaking in the right place at the right time.

Lee remains a shining example of grace on beams and bars, her top events, and was encouraged following her first competition of all-around excellence when she won in Tokyo when Biles was cheering from the stands.

Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey are among the contenders however both fell on the beam on Sunday. Third-place winner Kayla DiCello fell off the bars with uneven surfaces.

There’s Shilese Jones, who is regarded as the best gymnast all around across the U.S. without the last name Biles she was forced to withdraw from the competition on Friday, due to a shoulder injury, but she claimed on Sunday that she felt much better and will be ready for trials. Also, the 18-year-old Kaliya Lincoln who decided not to participate on Sunday after having a minor tinker during the beginning session.

If both are healthy, could be serious contenders to win the opportunity to go to Paris (Jones particularly).

Biles tickets are basically punched. Similar to the way it was in the past.

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