2024 Olympics: Simone Biles Fights Through Calf Pain During Gymnastics Qualifiers
Simone Biles wasn't going to let an apparent leg injury stop her from making a triumphant Olympic return.
On day two of the 2024 Paris Olympics July 28, the world's most decorated gymnast advanced past the qualifications round while powering through the pain.
After earning the highest score of 14.733 with her balance beam routine, the 27-year-old began warming up for her floor routine and at one point suffered a rough landing, prompting her to stop to get her left ankle leg taped.
Her coach Cecile Landi told reporters after the competition that the athlete "felt a little pain in her calf," NBC News reported. According to Landi, the apparent injury was also bothering Biles in training earlier this month but had improved until now. She added that the gymnast intends to continue competing in the 2024 Olympics as planned.
And indeed, Biles earned high scores in the other qualifying competitions—15.300 on the vault, 14.433 on the uneven bars and 14.600 with her floor routine, helping Team USA lead with a total score of 172.296.
Simone Biles wasn't going to let an apparent leg injury stop her from making a triumphant Olympic return.
On day two of the 2024 Paris Olympics July 28, the world's most decorated gymnast advanced past the qualifications round while powering through the pain.
After earning the highest score of 14.733 with her balance beam routine, the 27-year-old began warming up for her floor routine and at one point suffered a rough landing, prompting her to stop to get her left ankle leg taped.
Her coach Cecile Landi told reporters after the competition that the athlete "felt a little pain in her calf," NBC News reported. According to Landi, the apparent injury was also bothering Biles in training earlier this month but had improved until now. She added that the gymnast intends to continue competing in the 2024 Olympics as planned.
And indeed, Biles earned high scores in the other qualifying competitions—15.300 on the vault, 14.433 on the uneven bars and 14.600 with her floor routine, helping Team USA lead with a total score of 172.296.
The U.S. women's gymnastics team, also made up of Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and first-time Olympian Hezly Rivera, is set to return for the team final July 30.
The U.S. women's gymnastics team, also made up of Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and first-time Olympian Hezly Rivera, is set to return for the team final July 30.
This is Biles' third time competing in the Olympics, following her performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, during which she withdrew from several events, including the team final, citing mental health concerns and a case of the “twisties,” or temporary loss of spatial awareness.
This is Biles' third time competing in the Olympics, following her performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, during which she withdrew from several events, including the team final, citing mental health concerns and a case of the “twisties,” or temporary loss of spatial awareness.
“It’s a trauma response of everything that has happened," Biles said on the Netflix docuseries Simone Biles Rising, reflecting on her performance in the 2021 competition, "just being like, a survivor and all of the other things.”
“It’s a trauma response of everything that has happened," Biles said on the Netflix docuseries Simone Biles Rising, reflecting on her performance in the 2021 competition, "just being like, a survivor and all of the other things.”
The athlete, who was one of scores of gymnasts who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of now-incarcerated former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar under the guise of medical treatment, went on to say she didn't want to be afraid of gymnastics anymore.
The athlete, who was one of scores of gymnasts who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of now-incarcerated former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar under the guise of medical treatment, went on to say she didn't want to be afraid of gymnastics anymore.
"I couldn’t have it take that one last thing from me," she said on the program, adding that she wanted an "ending on my own terms.”
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Read on to see the most emotional moments so far at the 2024 Paris Olympics...
"I couldn’t have it take that one last thing from me," she said on the program, adding that she wanted an "ending on my own terms.”
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Read on to see the most emotional moments so far at the 2024 Paris Olympics...
Team USA's Simone Biles reacts after her exercise on the balance beam at the second of five women's qualfiying sessions, during day two of the Olympics.
The Argentinian rugby player Matteo Graziano following the defeat of his team against France.
Team Spain celebrates after their second goal in their match against Japan.
Zambia's Pauline Zulu is walked off the pitch by teammate Hellen Chanda after being presented with a red card during her team's match against Team USA.
Korea's Kang Kyung-min celebrates a score during a handball game against Germany.
Japanese soccer player Aoba Fujino after she scores the winning point for her team in a match against Spain.
Eldor Shomurodov of Uzbekistan and his teammates celebrate their winning goal during men's match against Spain.
Team USA's Simone Biles reacts after her exercise on the balance beam at the second of five women's qualfiying sessions, during day two of the Olympics.
The Argentinian rugby player Matteo Graziano following the defeat of his team against France.
Team Spain celebrates after their second goal in their match against Japan.
Zambia's Pauline Zulu is walked off the pitch by teammate Hellen Chanda after being presented with a red card during her team's match against Team USA.
Korea's Kang Kyung-min celebrates a score during a handball game against Germany.
Japanese soccer player Aoba Fujino after she scores the winning point for her team in a match against Spain.
Eldor Shomurodov of Uzbekistan and his teammates celebrate their winning goal during men's match against Spain.
Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics daily on NBC and Peacock until the summer games end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics daily on NBC and Peacock until the summer games end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
