PARIS — On the first day of the 2024 Olympic Games, gymnast Simone Biles faced a significant challenge when she injured her leg during a warm-up session. Despite this setback, Biles completed her routines and achieved first place in the qualifiers.
During the warm-up for the floor exercise, Biles felt discomfort in her calf. She briefly left the floor to consult with her coaches and returned with her ankle and calf taped. Despite the injury, Biles performed exceptionally well, notably scoring 15.8 on the vault, the highest in the competition.
Coach Cecile Landi downplayed the injury's impact, stating that Biles only experienced minor discomfort. Landi expressed confidence in Biles's ability to continue, emphasizing her determination.
Biles's performance, along with strong contributions from her teammates, secured the U.S. women’s gymnastics team a spot in the team all-around final, where they are favored to win gold. The individual all-around final will take place on Thursday.
There are no current concerns about Biles's participation in future events. Landi noted that Biles had previously experienced some calf pain earlier in the month but was otherwise ready for competition.
The U.S. team, featuring Jordan Chiles and defending gold medalist Sunisa Lee, finished the qualification round in the lead. Chiles and Lee both scored around 3.5 points behind Biles.
With high expectations for Biles and the U.S. team, anticipation is building for the upcoming finals. Chellsie Memmel, the women's team technical lead, highlighted the team’s clear goal of winning gold.
Biles’s performances drew the attention of a large crowd, including notable celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Tom Cruise, and Anna Wintour. As the competition progresses, all eyes remain on Biles and the U.S. gymnastics team in Paris.
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