Empty seats and silent audiences at any sporting event are a huge morale dwindler and prominent stars like Noah Lyles and Sydney McLaughlin Levrone have faced the brunt of it. Gymnastics suffers the same fate too from time to time. Will Olympic dreams collide with unexpected silence at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships? The anticipation was palpable as the event promised a spectacle of athleticism and Olympic dreams. With Simone Biles headlining the event, fans are eagerly waiting to witness the unparalleled grace on the mat. But contrasting with all the enthusiasm, an eerie silence pervaded the arena.

As to everyone’s disbelief, the empty stands dimmed the spectacle. Despite the queen of gymnastics reigning on the gymnastics floor, the roar from the stands was not loud enough to enlighten the electrifying performances. But why did Biles have to take center stage amidst an atmosphere of eerie quietude?

Simone Biles, a name synonymous with triumphs and roaring cheers in the gymnastics realm, took center stage in the U.S. Championship last Friday in Fort Worth, Texas. With gravity-defying stunts, Biles has already taken the lead. However, the absence of cheering fans left a void in the atmosphere. Recently an X post shared a snapshot of the empty stands of Fort Worth and added, “The arena is… empty”.

The tickets for the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships were available online for fans. The price for the tickets began from $239 for all eight sessions. The highest price reached approximately $10,000. This amount might be the reason behind the empty stands. Also, the tornado in Texas affected the area and left many people without power. This, in turn, might have affected the situation.

Besides Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas was on the list of contenders, but unfortunately, because of a sudden injury, she had to withdraw from the U.S. Championships 2024. The list is also graced by names like Shilese Jones, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Leane Wong, Yul Moldauer, Paul Juda, and many other extraordinary athletes.

A stadium filled with enthusiastic supporters often becomes a catalyst for the athletes’ positive mindset before their performance. As the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships unfolded against the backdrop of a deserted arena, fans couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment. And longing for the days when stadiums were filled with enthusiastic supporters. This holds true for the dismal plight prevailing in track and field as well, especially if we consider allusions to this interrelated problem in the sporting realm.

Noah Lyles, back in 2021, even admitted that his failure and underwhelming performance in the 200m was due to the lack of a viable crowd rooting for their favorite athletes. Notwithstanding Covid regulations, he simply stated that-“I don’t think you understand how lifeless it was in Tokyo to have no crowd there. It was dead silent,” which just goes to show how much of a buzzkill the dearth of fans causes to an athlete’s game. With no clarion calls or chants as such, he came in clutch with his rationale that –“I’ve competed in a stadium where the audience was silent and it was extremely weird, I think I would rather have nobody there.”

The same disappointing case prevailed with Sydney Levrone as well in the Oxy Invitational in LA this year. In her maiden voyage this year (her first ever hurdle race since August 2022) saw an acute paucity of traffic and turnover. While Levrone still gave it her all to emerge with a 12.71 in the 100mH, it still underscores that this issue is skin deep. Getting back to gymnastics, fans were visibly disheartened by this perennial problem and even chimed in with their two cents.

Gymnastics enthusiasts and netizens took to the comment section of the X post and shared their two cents on the matter. Referring to how direly vacant the stands are, one X user mentioned that even the first rows are empty. They commented, “Literally you could be sitting the first row.”

One fan mentioned their awkwardness while they watched the event on television. They highlighted that due to sparse applause in the nearly empty arena. “For real, the smattering of clapping after routines in that arena is so awkward on TV :/”, wrote the fan.

Expressing incredulity at the high ticket prices for an event in Fort Worth, Texas, one user shared an opinion. The user sarcastically commented, “Who wants to pay $10,000 for tickets to an event in the exotic, beautiful paradise of….Fort Worth.” Texas is not predominantly considered a luxurious location. The comment reflected the irony of such high costs for an event in a location that may not be perceived as glamorous.

One comment highlighted that the previous day of the event too experienced a similar scenario. The user expressed disappointment and wrote, “Damn I thought it would be significantly better than the men yesterday but it’s not.”

While the Paris Olympics are just a few weeks away, athletes are gearing up to showcase their athletic prowess at every event. Despite that, Fort Worth had to execute one of the most awaited gymnastics events amid haunting silence.

The hype was real for a Simone Biles vs. Gabby Douglas clash at the 2024 Core Hydration Classic. Simone’s return for her fourth Olympic gymnastics cycle was nothing short of spectacular. She nailed her performance at May’s U.S. Classic, scoring 59.500 in the all-around, her best since Tokyo. Meanwhile, Gabby faced some challenges withdrawing after the first rotation with 10.100 on uneven bars.

Despite facing these struggles, Gabby has still managed to secure her spot at the prestigious 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. This competition is the showdown before the Olympic Trials kick off on June 27–30. That’s when the selection for the five-man and five-woman teams that will compete in the Paris Olympics will take place.

The women’s all-around winner at trials secures an Olympic spot, while for the men, the all-around winner makes the team if he is also among the top three on three of the six apparatuses. Gabby Douglas may not be hitting the mats for the all-around event, but she’s still gearing up to compete in three out of four events and gunning for a spot in the Olympic Trials.

Meanwhile, Simone Biles will defend her historic win at the 2023 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, clinching her eighth U.S. all-around title and becoming the oldest woman to achieve this feat. With fans eagerly awaiting the epic showdown between the biggest names in American gymnastics, let’s uncover the details on when, where, and how you can catch all the action!

When and where are the 2024 Xfinity Gymnastics Championships taking place?

Get ready to mark your calendars because the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships are happening from May 30th to June 2nd at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. It’s going to be four days packed with jaw-dropping performances as gymnasts from across the nation compete for those prestigious national champion titles in both men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics. Here’s the rundown of the schedule:

Tuesday, May 30th: Podium Training for Junior Men at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by Senior Men at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Thursday, June 1st: Day 1 for Junior Men at 2:15 p.m. ET and Senior Men at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Friday, June 2nd: Day 1 for Junior Women at 3:00 p.m. ET and Senior Women at 8:00 p.m. ET.

While awaiting the exciting showdown, let us discover how you can catch all the live action-packed weekend, even if you haven’t secured tickets.

To catch the electrifying clash between gymnastics icons like Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas at the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, there are several options to ensure you don’t miss a moment of the action. For starters, if you’re in the US, you can tune in to the live broadcasts on NBC and Peacock, which will air the senior women’s competition on Friday, May 31st, from 7-9 and on Sunday, June 2nd, from 6-8, both in U.S. Central Daylight Time.

Additionally, USA Gymnastics will be providing live coverage of senior women’s podium training sessions via FlipNow.TV on Wednesday, May 29th, at 5 pm Central Time. Those outside the U.S. can catch the excitement on the USA Gymnastics YouTube channel, where the event will be streamed live. With the countdown ticking away and anticipation reaching a fever pitch, all eyes are eagerly fixed on the imminent crowning of the next national champions.

Simone Biles has proved to the world why she is a true champion. Coming back from her break, Biles has been at the peak of form. However, just a couple of years back, things did not look rosy for Biles. Trying to win herself another Olympic gold accolade, Simone Biles received the shock of her life. While in mid-air during one of her routines, Biles lost the perception of where the land was. She later announced her condition as ‘twisties’ that created ripples in the gymnastics realm.

Subsequently, Biles had to pull out of the competition, sacrificing her dreams for Tokyo. A long period of grinding rehab process followed. Under the strict guidance of Beth Riemersma, Biles slowly but surely got her footing back. And now, gaining an able ally in Brody Malone, Biles has her decision of withdrawal justified.

Brody Malone is currently the hot topic in US gymnastics. After coming back from his injury, Malone has been unstoppable. His recent 85.95 on the first night of the US gymnastics championships has made his fans go crazy. However, taking a step aside from his on-field action, Malone recently spoke about another legendary US gymnast-Simone Biles.

Speaking on the EP338 DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK | BRODY MALONE | FORMER WORLD CHAMPION AND TEAM USA OLYMPIC GYMNAST podcast, Malone stated that he supported Biles’ decision to pull out midway. While this decision was largely criticized, Malone thought otherwise.

He stated, “Yeah. She was getting lost in the air. And then when she did the same thing in the competition, I was like, okay, that kind of solidifies it. She definitely is, is a little bit lost. She’s got the twisties. So taking herself out at that moment I think was probably the right thing to do for her team.” 

Malone justified his statement by pointing out that continuing with such complications would result in serious injuries. He also opined that not being 100% fit is something that would harm her team negatively as well. While she has received significant support, Biles has already chalked her redemption plan, it seems.

Biles’ stupendous comeback

Simone Biles made her comeback to competitive gymnastics last year at the World Championships in Belgium. Displaying spectacular routines, Biles clinched four gold medals to establish her reign of dominance over the others. Opening her season this year, Simone Biles won the Core Hydration Classics as well to give out a powerful statement ahead of the upcoming Olympics.

Biles, looking to grab all the limelight in Paris, is training hard for her dreams. Meanwhile, her main aim will be to wipe the nightmarish memories of Tokyo off her ledger. Speaking with Olympics.com in 2023, Biles opened up about her approach going forward. She said, “I think I have to take care of myself a little bit more and listen to my body and making sure that I’m making time for the important things in my life rather than before.” Thus, with things looking bright, it remains to be seen how Simone Biles delivers on her D-day.

Simone Biles has influenced her “bestie” Jordan Chiles in countless ways. As Chiles puts it, “She was my mentor, my big sister, and now she’s like my ride-or-die best friend.“ However, for spending habits, these two couldn’t be more different. Despite earning millions from her Olympic status, Biles confessed in a 2019 episode of “Kneading Dough” with Maverick Carter, “I have a fear of going broke.”

She shared how she challenges herself to go days without spending a dime on the occasional treat from Subway. She even said, “I never really swipe the [credit] card,” and she only splurges when she feels she’s truly earned it. On the flip side, Jordan Chiles has a taste for bling-y things, apparent in her ever-growing obsession.

In an interview with KPRC-TV, Jordan Chiles talked about her life as an Olympic medalist, her path to the next Olympics in Paris, and her love for sneakers. She gave host Keith Garvin and fans a tour of her home, showing off her “VIP Lounge” in her closet. This is where she keeps her collection of shoes, especially her favorite Nike Air Jordans, all arranged by color and design. She displays about 100 pairs, but that’s only half of her collection—the rest are stored in Los Angeles storage.

Jordan’s sneaker obsession didn’t start until she was older. She said, “My collection kind of grew from there and almost every Christmas I’d just be like, ‘Shoes! Shoes! Shoes!“ Now, she owns hundreds of pairs and even has a special collection with Nike, including a Paris-themed line. For her 23rd birthday, Nike went all out with baby blue Jordans as part of the decor.

Even at the 2024 Core Hydration Classic, Jordan wowed everyone not just with her performance but also with her style. She paired a Nike x Swarovski pair of shoes with her red leotard and black corset top. On Team USA’s Instagram, she was a fan favorite, signing autographs and showing off her shoes. “Did you peep the shoes? Swarovski, Nike, period. Everything is exclusive period,“ she shared. As we marvel at her passion for sneakers, it’s interesting to mention that Chiles was named in tribute to the iconic No. 23, Michael Jordan.

How her obsession with sneakers and the brand began since her birth

Jordan Chiles was destined to be a sneakerhead from the get-go as her mom, Gina, was a huge fan of Michael Jordan. However, after a tough six-year journey to have Jordan, Gina’s enthusiasm won, and they named their daughter Jordan in honor of MJ’s iconic number 23. Both Gina and Jordan share a deep appreciation for Jordan 1s, considering them their all-time favorite pairs. For Gina, “Anything in the original colorway is huge for me.“

Now, as a Nike athlete heading to her second Olympics in Paris, Jordan Chiles sees her journey with the brand as “a full-circle moment.“ With her ever-growing sneaker collection and her passion for the culture, it’s clear that her obsession with sneakers isn’t just a phase—it’s a defining part of who she is.

Simone Biles is gearing up for the Paris Olympics, and she’s bringing a bit of French flair to her routines with the help of Gregory Milan. Milan is a choreographer known for his work with the French women’s gymnastics team. Through Simone’s inner circles and getting to know her coach, Cécile Canqueteau-Landi, makes this collaboration feel like a perfect match. Milan isn’t just a background figure; he’s right there in the thick of it, often seen in training sessions with Landi’s other athletes. Milan is yet another anchor for Simone Biles.

In December 2023, Simone gave her Instagram followers a sneak peek into this dynamic partnership. She shared a video of her unique floor routine, humorously captioned, “No one asked but…. this is how the floor routine is going,” bursting into laughter. Simone was all smiles and clearly having a blast during the session.

Gregory Milan, with his flamboyant personality, brought a fun and light-hearted vibe to the training. He twirled Simone and lifted her into the air while she effortlessly stretched out her feet, toes pointed with perfect precision. Their chemistry was infectious, and it’s evident that Milan has piqued the interest of gymnastics fans. As the duo gears up to clinch gold in the French capital, in an Exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, the man himself delved into the unseen facets of the gymnastics GOAT and it was an eye-opening revelation. Their friendship stands the test of time, though.

In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Gregory Milan did a deep dive about working with Simone Biles, saying, “Simone is a bit crazy too; she’s like a grasshopper, she has dynamism, she has energy, but it’s incredible.” Milan, who once described gymnastics as “very staccato, very rough movements, with a sense of geometry,” has made a name for himself by infusing these rigid routines with his own flair and creativity. This unique approach is precisely why he enjoys working with Simone. “So I liked working with Simone because I liked this temperament,” he told EssentiallySports.

Despite his roots not being in gymnastics, having Gregory by her side can completely uplift Simone’s mood. Simone herself revealed this, sharing a birthday story for Gregory Milan with the caption, “Your energy is electric. Everyone needs a Greguito in their life!!! We always have the best time!” Their bond has only grown stronger as the Paris Olympics approach. It’s clear that Simone’s innate skills aren’t the only things Gregory, an acclaimed international dancer and graduate of the Opéra de Paris, admires about the gymnastics queen.

Simone Biles has often drawn inspiration from other star athletes like Shaquille O’Neal, who successfully transitioned from sports to a diverse range of business ventures and endorsements. Reflecting on this, Simone once said, “I realized there can be happiness outside of gymnastics.”

She’s been putting this into action with long-term partnerships with brands like Athleta and GK Elite, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit. Gregory Milan has certainly noticed this about Simone. In his interview with EssentiallySports, he shared, “You know, Simone is not only the greatest gymnast in the world, but she is also a businesswoman.”

At the 2024 Core Hydration Classic, Simone Biles wowed the crowd with a new floor routine set to Taylor Swift, even bringing back the iconic Triple Double. She followed this with a seamless front full through to double-double, executed a flawless switch to tour jeté full, a double wolf turn, a switch full, and capped it off with a floaty double layout that earned her a massive 14.800.

The three make a pretty good team and their mettle will be tested come Paris. Under his tutelage, it remains to be seen how she will fare in her personal as well as her professional endeavours.

Simone Biles, widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts ever has set new standards of excellence with 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. She is not only a role model for athletes worldwide, but also for her younger sister Adria who followed in her footsteps till she completed high school. Adria, who is often mistaken for Simone due to her close resemblance to her famous sister, has always expressed her enduring love for gymnastics, a sport deeply ingrained in her family’s life.

The World Champion’s sister later quit the elite competition to pursue further studies. Though she has mentioned that she somewhat regrets the decisions. However, she never misses staying close to her passion for gymnastics be it showcasing her support for Simone or sometimes even showing off her own skill. One such moment occurred recently when Adria once again proved that she resembles her sister not just in physical features.

In a recent story on Instagram, Adria was seen at the beach with a friend. The duo were enjoying reminiscing about old times as they performed a side-by-side flip. Adria Biles seemed nostalgic as she captioned her story, “the urge to always flip.” After competing for 10 years, Adria Biles left the sport while being at the junior elite level. She has since gone on to pursue a career in hygiene and dental assisting. However, both Biles sisters have openly acknowledged that Adria faced comparisons to Simone after every victory, which disheartened her.

During a video session answering fans’ questions, Simone spoke about how much the comparisons negatively affected her sister’s morale. She said, “She quit because of the pressure, and everybody compared her to me…Whenever she went to competitions like ‘Oh, her sister always wins, she always wins, that’s not fair’.” After stepping away from gymnastics, Adria joined a dancing crew affiliated with the Houston Astros called the Shooting Stars. She proudly represented the team at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, before eventually shifting her focus to pursue a career in healthcare.

She also appeared on Claim to Fame, a TV show hosted by Kevin and Frankie Jonas. Despite competing under the guise of the name Louise, her resemblance to Simone Biles led to her instant recognition. Adria once said in an interview how even in Brazil, she was often mistaken for her Olympic gold medalist sister, saying, “They’d ask for autographs and take pictures. And many times they didn’t speak English so I couldn’t explain that I wasn’t her.” In some way or the other, Adria always found herself tied closely to her love for the sport, despite stepping away from the mat years ago.

Adria Biles’ continuing love for gymnastics

When Adria Biles was young, she found immense inspiration in her elder sister Simone and actively pursued gymnastics. She diligently honed her skills and was a level 9 competitor. Though she did not win Olympic medals, break world records, or perform the dangerous Yurchenko double pike like her sister, at one point they had equal skills. During an “Ask Me Anything” session on Instagram, when questioned about any regrets regarding her decision to leave gymnastics, Adria responded affirmatively. However, she also shared that she now coaches and has discovered stability and purpose in her life.

Despite not confirming her return, Adria Biles evidently misses the sport. Earlier this year she took to Instagram to share a double flip. It was part of the “Everybody add a flip” trend. Her perfect execution was accompanied by a caption, “I miss it everyday” followed by a red heart. While Adria Biles has moved on from competitive gymnastics, her heart still cherishes the thrill of the sport.

Simone Biles, despite being the gymnastics queen of the US, has had a rough road to fame. Dealing with major complications from her mental health troubles in Tokyo, Biles took a leave to recover. Once she came back, things did seem to get back to normal. Unfortunately, the demons of her previous years threatened to come back when Biles tried to go full throttle. Competing at the 2023 Antwerp World Championships, Simone Biles had an unexpected tumble.

While running in for a dance pass on floor exercise, Biles jumped and went straight to the ground. Embarrassed at her inability to nail a proper landing, Biles immediately got up and smiled. Sadly, the damage was being done by then. However, recollecting the memories, a considerate Cecile Landi explained how she helped Simone Biles get over the shock.

Simone Biles, the legend she is, managed to overshadow her mistake in subsequent rounds. Delivering a sublime performance, Biles came back strong to clinch her 6th all-around championship title. While Biles basked in all the glory, one person smiled silently. It was Biles’ coach, Cecile Landi, without whom, the turnaround would have been impossible. Catching up with an earlier interview with GymCastic, Landi detailed how exactly she tackled Biles’ initial failure.

Landi stated that she was very proud of Biles’ antics out on the mat. And when she came back after the tumble, Landi said, “it was okay.” She then went on to explain that Biles herself was taken aback by her words. But Landi knew exactly what she was doing. Reflecting on her words, Landi pointed out, “I said you have enough skills don’t worry lower sty value but you should be fine.” 

Well, it was this act of compassion that triggered Biles to do something better and present her coach with a happy memory. And surely she did. Biles also took time to return to action in 2024. After spending quality time with her husband Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles made a thumping comeback at the 2024 Core Hydration Classics. The time off from the mats was a crucial factor for Biles as she is a huge advocate of mental wellness.

Simone Biles advocates for mental health

After her dismal Tokyo outing, she openly discussed ‘twisties’. According to her, under such circumstances, the mind loses the ability to fathom the existence of space and land. Thus, it made Biles face immense difficulties while in the air. However, once she got out of the mess, the 27-year-old began to preach about the importance of having a sound mental state.

Speaking about the same, Biles stated, “We have to protect our body and our mind … It just sucks when you’re fighting with your own head. Whenever you get in a high-stress situation, you kind of freak out. I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being.” 

And surely, Biles has backed her talks. After coming back from her extended vacation, Biles showed her class in the Core Hydration Classics. Dominating every routine, Simone Biles scored 59.500. This was an impressive debut because Biles’ score was almost a couple of points clear of the second-placed Shilese Jones. Thus, with things looking great for Biles, it remains to be seen how well the US gymnastics queen performed in the Olympics.

She’s just the best gymnast I’ve ever seen in my life,” said the awestricken veteran Mary Lou Retton, cheering up for Simone Biles after she had made history in 2016! “America’s Sweetheart” Mary Lou Retton and Simone Biles dazzle as America’s gymnastics icons. They are similar not only on the professional front but also because of the similarities in the adversities they overcame.

Retton’s battle with a rare pneumonia illness spanning seven months mirrors Biles’ own challenges, including her public struggle with the Twisties. However, despite Mary Lou’s veteran status in the sport, she once openly expressed her respect for Biles’ GOAT status, claiming it surpassed hers. Did you know she even mused about the possibility of the seven-time Olympic medalist competing in the men’s competition?

In August 2016, the first American woman to secure an overall Olympic gold, Mary Lou Retton candidly shared her admiration for Simone Biles’ GOAT status in the world of gymnastics with People magazine. She passionately expressed, “I say it over and over, she is the greatest gymnast ever, I really do think that.” Retton’s awe for Biles extended beyond mere medals; she even playfully suggested that Biles possessed the strength and skill to compete in the men’s competition.

“We have a running joke that she’s so strong she should have to compete with the men. She’s that strong,” Retton chuckled. At the time, Biles had already made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics, clinching four Olympic gold medals in team, all-around, vault, floor exercise, and a bronze on the balance beam. Retton watched in awe as Biles showcased her unmatched talent like the rest of the world.

Reflecting on Biles’ dominance, Retton acknowledged that such extraordinary ability wasn’t solely the result of coaching but rather a God-given talent that couldn’t be taught. “She’s just the best gymnast I’ve ever seen in my life, and I think a lot of us as athletes and even Olympic champions say the same thing,” Retton declared with conviction. As we ponder these profound words, it’s comforting to know that when Simone Biles faced her toughest trial, she wasn’t alone; she had the immense support of countless veterans!

Gymnastics community backs Simone Biles after Tokyo ‘Twisties’

In 2021, when Simone Biles courageously withdrew from the team finals and several other events, numerous veterans and former Olympians shared their perspectives on her choice. Nastia Liukin articulated the significance of Biles’ actions, emphasizing that prioritizing her mental health and safety set a profound example for athletes and spectators alike.

Liukin expressed, “It was something that I will forever be so proud of her for doing because, you know she has set such a great example, obviously for everything she has done on the competition floor, but in my opinion, even more so off of the competition floor.” Similarly, Aly Raisman, Biles’ teammate from the 2016 Rio Olympics, highlighted the immense pressure Biles faced and expressed the importance of recognizing her humanity.

Raisman stated, “But I think it’s also just really important to think about how much pressure has been on her, and there’s only so much that someone can take. She’s human, and I think sometimes people forget that. And Simone, just like everyone else, is doing the best that she can.” As we contemplate this camaraderie, let’s also delve into Mary Lou’s thoughts on Simone Biles’ journey toward her fourth Olympics.

Mary Lou’s Paris Olympics prediction for Simone Biles

As Simone Biles sets her sights on the 2024 Paris Olympics, Mary Lou Retton eagerly shares her thoughts on the journey ahead. Retton expressed her high hopes for Biles’ performance in Paris in an exclusive interview. Retton exuded confidence when asked about Biles’ prospects for the upcoming Olympics, stating, “No doubt. Everyone’s going to be watching women’s gymnastics to see who gets second, seriously.”

Retton’s optimism extends to a specific aspiration: witnessing Biles clinch an Olympic gold on the uneven bars, a feat she has yet to accomplish. As for her own attendance at the Paris Olympics, Retton remains undecided due to ongoing health concerns. However, she emphatically expressed her desire to support Team USA from afar, reaffirming her dedication to the sport, its athletes, and her country.