Coming off of her historic, record-setting comeback in 2023, 7-time Olympic medalist and 30-time (23 gold) World Medalist Simone Biles is set to make her 2024 season debut at the Core Hydration Classic. For Biles, this isn’t just another competition; every meet is a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice for her. Moreover, since Core Hydration is the first competition of the year and comes just after her win at the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, all eyes will be on her. So, as the event draws right around the corner, Biles is dedicated to making some sacrifices.
Among these sacrifices is her commitment to core hydration, a crucial element in maintaining peak performance. This is because the 2024 Core Hydration tournament will be especially grueling. In the upcoming competition, three U.S. Olympic All-around gold medalists—Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Suni Lee will compete head-to-head. Naturally, Biles is striving to be in top form for the challenge.
Recently, Simone Biles shared a series of pictures on her Instagram story of an intimate gathering with her coaches and family in Hartford. There, Biles was seen abstaining from all alcoholic beverages captioning, “I’m having a mocktail”. She was also joined by her husband Jonathan Owens and hinted at enjoying an ice cream. Additionally, she posed for a picture with Jonathan in her next story. While others enjoyed a lemony boozy drink, Biles chose something different. Likely because of the Core Hydration tournament that is set to take place today.
Even Biles’ ex-coach and WCC program director, Cecile Landi, posted about the event in a story of the WCC team undergoing podium training before today’s tournament. Biles will face formidable opponents in the competition. The Core Hydration classics are especially important this year due to the Paris Olympics. They are a stepping stone to being selected for the US women’s gymnastics team.
Biles is vying for a position as she was heard saying, “The 2024 Olympics is definitely on my radar. I’m not going to count out 2024. You just have to be patient with me and accept me for who I am.” Though Biles and her opponents have already qualified for the Xfinity U.S. Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, later this month, Classics is still an important stage to assert her dominance firmly once again, cruising through the fiery lineup in the meet.
Competing on the mat will be Suni Lee, who is the reigning Olympic all-around champion. Lee has been teasing a new and improved routine for months and will be tough competition. Even Gabby Douglas will be present. Douglas made a comeback at the American Classic and qualified for the U.S. Championships, aiming to earn a spot on her third Olympic team. Biles told Le Monde, “’I’m getting old and I have more to lose.” This builds up pressure and requires sacrificing a little bit of fun. But Biles is not unfamiliar with that.
Simone Biles is no stranger to making sacrifices for her sport
“I never thought I’d be who I am,” Simone had said once, referring to her disturbed upbringing. But eventually, she made it, since her whole life had revolved around gymnastics. At the age of 14, she gave up her friends and school life to be homeschooled. Just so that she could train for 30 hours a week. After making the Olympic team for the 2016 games, Simone had vented out her sorrow for that. “The biggest thing I’ve had to give up was public school for the four years of my high school,” She had said on that occasion. There is more to it.
“Just being every kid likes…being social…like having lots of friends…going out…and then…like the high school proms,” Simone had painted the picture of her restricted life she lived only for her sport. She even made the trip year after year to the Karolyi ranch to train. This resilience and sacrifice have paid Simone well. “Simone is so good that the rest of us can only hope to finish second to her in the all-around. What else can you do? She does all sorts of crazy things no one else can do,” Sunisa Lee had said once about Simone. But in the end, she has something that not many can afford.
“Since I’m where I’m now…I don’t think I missed too much of it because they can’t really say that world champions are going to Olympics…so I thnk it’s okay that I missed prom,” Simone had said, taking the miss to her favor.
This year, Simone Biles and her coach Cecile Landi are primarily focusing on Biles’ mental health and physical well-being. This seems to be the reason why she abstained from alcohol and partying. Biles said in a previous interview, “I’m not trying to make a comeback. I’m trying to get back to what I love to do, but in a healthier way. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be worth it at the end of the day.” Keeping that in mind, Biles is aiming for a spot amongst the five-member team heading to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Now that Biles has sacrificed so many things, what is one drink on the face of it?
