Simone Biles wasn't perfect on Friday evening (28 June) as the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics got underway, but she was more than good enough.
Despite uncharacteristic wobbles on the balance beam in the night's second rotation, with a month until the women’s qualifying round at Paris 2024, Biles looks as good, if not better than ever.
It's quite the feat for the veteran, who owns 37 World Championships and Olympic medals, that make her the most decorated gymnast of all time.
But coach Cecile Landi, a 1996 Olympian for France, says Biles’ competitive performances are hard earned.
“She’s showed everybody hard work. A lot of are surprised how hard she works on a daily basis,” said Landi. “No matter how talented she is, she gets the numbers done.”
"All the work she's been doing outside the gym, and just being 27, married, she has other stuff going on, and I think it helps her keep a good balance. You know, it's not only gymnastics. And I think that keeps her sane,” explained Landi. “She's calm. She laughs. She's back to her sometimes goofy self that we had missed a few times, so I think this is where it shows.”
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