Surprise! Houston Star Gymnast Simone Biles Is Returning to Competition. Is Paris ’24 Next?
(image from @simonebiles on Instagram)
IN SHOCKING SPORTS news, Simone Biles is back in action!
Multiple news outlets have reported that Houston’s Biles — the gymnastics superstar, whose expected dominance of the 2021 games in Tokyo did not materialize, as she chose not to compete in some events due to mental health concerns — is returning to elite competition.
Biles “is part of the women's field for the single-day event set for Aug. 5” in Estates, Ill., per ESPN.
The seven-time Olympic medalist and 2016 Olympic champ hasn’t formally competed since the events in Japan. The unexpected return has already spurred widespread speculation that Biles will seek to compete in next year’s summer games in Paris.
Biles herself has not commented. Her most recent Instagram posts refer to her marriage to former Houston Texans football player Jonathan Owens in Cabo early last month. She and Jones, who was just traded to the Green Bay Packers, are currently building a new house together in Spring. She's chronicled much of this on her popular 'Gram page; see below.
Among a career of accolades and accomplishments, Biles is currently ranked No. 4 in CityBook’s “Cool 100” list of the coolest people in Houston. Two other athletes are in the top four: Astros slugger Jeremy Peña at No. 3 and, at No. 1, Jordan Santana, the 20-year-old skateboard phenom who’s already stated her desire to compete on Team USA next summer in France.
Biles, 26, is the most decorated American gymnast ever.
Karen Imas (Photo by Lynn Lane)