Simone Biles is on her quest for glory at the Paris Olympics 2024 after her mishap in Tokyo. In a bid to refine her performance, Biles has turned to a strategic partnership with Frenchman Gregory Milan. He is a friend of Simone Biles’ coach Landi. Milan is often seen in training sessions with Landi’s other trainees.

With her sights on gold, Biles looks to Milan for guidance in honing her skills and conquering Olympic challenges. Together, their collaboration promises an exciting journey toward Olympic greatness in the City of Light. Let’s delve into the details of this alliance, exploring how their combined efforts are shaping Biles’ path to victory.

In a recent post on X by FX Choreo, Simone Biles is seen practicing her graceful and arduous routine ahead of the Paris Olympics. The caption reads, “Gregory Milan also worked with Simone Biles for her floor and beam choreographies!” She is being helped by the French choreography artist ahead of the big games. Milan, who has closely worked with gymnasts to develop their choreographies, has also assisted the French women’s gymnastics team leading to their gold in Portimao. In the X video, Milan is seen accompanying Biles on the floor, twirling and lifting her as she stretches out her feet with pointed toes.

Earlier, Biles had shared a post thanking Milan for helping her with her beam and floor choreography and wished him a happy birthday. Biles even shared another post praising the man, “Your energy is electric,” and, “everyone needs a greguito in their life!!! we always have the best time!” Milan was also seen with Cecile Landi’s trainee Melanie Santos practicing a floor choreo this year.

Speaking about his involvement in gymnastics, Milan had once said, “Since I didn’t come from gymnastics, people didn’t trust me at first, even though dance and gymnastics share very high standards.” However, Landi seems to trust him wholeheartedly as he often develops gymnastics routines alongside her trainees. It is likely that Gregory Milan will be helping Simone Biles develop her beam and floor routine for the Paris Games in August as well.

Simone Biles and her coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi are taking a different route this time as the gymnast returns to the Olympic stage post her “twisties.” The focus is primarily on Biles’ mental health and being in tune with her body. She has been attending therapy weekly and is prioritizing maintaining a top-notch training routine. On “All Things Gymnastics” podcast, Landi said, “She’s [Simone] really in tune with how she’s feeling mentally and physically, speaking up about it” adding, “It’s [therapy] an escape and it’s also what helps her continue what she’s doing.” If anything, Biles’ performances recently speak for themselves.

She won the national all-around title in the 2023 World Championships in Belgium after a two-year hiatus. Biles also performed a Yurchenko double pike vault, a feat never before done by a woman in competition. She is hoping for a spot on the US gymnastics women’s team next. Though we are all waiting for the trials to know for sure whether Biles will be a part of Paris, she strongly hinted that is her goal. In an interview with TODAY, she said, “I would say that’s the path I would love to go, so I wouldn’t mind if you put it in the ‘yay’ section.” At present Biles is preparing for various competitions like the Core Hydration Classic, U.S. Gymnastics Championships, and U.S. Olympic Trials, which will determine her spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

The awareness regarding mental health issues in sports was before the Tokyo Olympics as well. However, Simone Biles bowing out from the 2021 Olympics because of her ‘twisties’ (a rare situation when body and mind are not in sync while trying high-level elements) added a voice to it. At the time, several athletes backed her decision to move out of the Olympic village.

One such support came from Alex Bowen, a Team USA member from the men’s water polo team. In his acknowledgment, the athlete said, “To be able to overcome your own ego and step aside, that’s huge.” Once again, Simone Biles has received similar cheering for her stand in the Tokyo Olympics, but this time, it has come from one of her opponents in the 2021 Games. But the context remains the same – Olympic participation with a notwithstanding mental state.

Italian gymnast Vanessa Ferrari is on her fifth Olympic endeavor, eyeing a fitting end to her career through an achievement from the Parisian contest. Even so, with such a goal in mind, she can side with her mental well-being if there comes any question regarding it, defying her target. In her recent conversation with the Olympics. com, the veteran informed, “I want to be competitive. I am the first to say that if I am not in the right form, I do not want to go.” Surprisingly, Vanessa Ferrari can think of taking such a step after getting inspired by Simone Biles in the Tokyo Olympics. There remains a riveting backstory.

In the Tokyo Olympics, Vanessa Ferrari defeated Simone Biles in the qualification round of floor exercise. But she remained sympathetic when Simone informed her about the decision to withdraw from the contest. However, Vanessa Ferrari had supported Simone Biles’ step then.

Furthermore, after equalizing her status with the American opponent, Vanessa elaborated, “If you struggle with disorientation in the air, it can be very scary.” Eventually, in the same floor exercise in Tokyo, Ferrari achieved her target to earn an Olympic medal. Three years later, she is putting effort into changing her medal color. But on the question of mental state, she stands firm on her Paris Olympics participation. But what did Simone Biles carry out in Tokyo that even after these years her stand echoes in the annals of sports?

The issues keep repeating despite brave standings 

Before Simone Biles could speak out about the niggling mental state in continuing the sports, Micheal Phelps put a volume on it in the 2020 documentary The Weight of Gold. The most decorated Olympian had blamed the excessive pressure of expectations from the fans that harmed. The same tone echoed in Japanese gymnast, Mai Murakami’s statement, who felt evaporated despite winning the bronze medal in Tokyo, fearing the criticism from her countrymen. However, Simone jotted down these points and proved that athletes are “still human.”

Talking about the criticism part, Simone Biles grieved over the fact of coming under public scrutiny bearing the mountainous pressure of being the face of the nation in high-level competitions. Protesting such condemnation, she said, “People have no idea what is going on behind the scenes, and just judge us from our social media.” In her conversation in the Call Her Daddy podcast as well, Simone Biles described the public criticism part in length.

Simone Biles was expected to bring another gold medal from the Olympics. But her exit from the game might not have been received positively. “I thought I was gonna be banned from America. Because that’s what they tell you; don’t come back. If it’s not gold, gold or bust, don’t come back,”  she described in that podcast. This part remains the same.

While measuring her path to the Paris Olympics, Vanessa Ferrari is fighting with her age, physical boundaries, and form. These factors are competent enough to harm the confidence level that may double the pressure from expectations of representing the country. Now, as the Paris Olympics occasion is inching closer, Vanessa may prefer fewer issues with mental health.

Did you know that Simone Biles takes a half-point deduction each time she has performed the Yurchenko double pike? With the Paris Olympics coming closer, all eyes are on Biles. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was a sad outing for her that resulted in a 2-year hiatus owing to Biles’ mental health struggles. But the tides seem to have risen now as Biles has already taken her first step toward redemption.

Competing at the 2023 US Classics, the gymnastics queen displayed her prowess to clinch the all-around gold. Going forward, several questions remain unanswered. One of them is will Simone Biles stick to her Chenko Double Pike going into Paris. Or will she focus on the Amanar as was spotted earlier inside her gym?

While the Chenko Double Pike might earn her more points, the risk element involved is extremely high. This was an area of concern that was raised recently by none other than Cecile Landi, Simone Biles’ coach.

Whenever Biles performed the Yurchenko double pike, the judges hardly found any errors when she dived on the table and flipped in the air. This was the fifth skill to be named after her (one on the balance beam, two on the floor exercise, and two on the vault). But her most significant deduction comes on the landing. That is because Laurent Landi stands on the mat when Biles lands during the risky vault.

Sitting down in a Spotify podcast, Cecile Landi opened up about this bizarre rule that she did not like. Speaking about how Simone Biles wants to perfect her Chenko Double Pike, Cecile stated that the fact Laurent Landi could not be present made no sense. Expressing her anger, Cecile stated, “Yeah, it’s, it’s such a dumb deduction too. Like honestly when you see on bars the coaches and they’re doing hint signal and stuff and this and then you can’t have anybody on a vault like this or even on a vem dismount, I’m sorry. It would’ve saved maybe a few concussions and injuries if people were able to stay.”

Even Chellsie Memmel, the technical lead of the U.S. high-performance staff, also felt that Biles should have Landi by her side during the landing and said, “My personal opinion is that he should be able to stand there.”

For those who are unaware, the rule does not permit a coach to be close to a gymnast during a vault routine. Otherwise, the athlete would be subjected to a points deduction. To avoid any such situations in the Olympics, Simone Biles is hellbent on not having Laurent Landi on the mat while she practices the Chenko Double Pike.

This decision came after Biles, in the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships last year, voluntarily took a half-point deduction so coach Landi could stand on the mat as a precaution as she nailed the Yurchenko.

Even the president of the women’s technical committee, Donatella Sacchi mentioned, “We are not going to change any rule before the Olympic Games.” Usually, the Code of Points book is updated for each Olympic cycle. But, as the Paris Games is just around the corner, there has been no update on this. If at all there is a change in the rule, it would benefit Biles in continuing the challenging vault.

Cecile also justified her opinion by saying that a deduction would have made sense if there was physical help. For example, if Laurent would touch Biles and help her with her routine, there was every reason for points to be deducted. However, a coach being present merely to keep a check on the safety and well-being of his gymnasts should be permitted according to Cecile.

Simone Biles’ Chenko Double Pike gets a 6+ difficulty

According to the International Gymnastics Federation, Simone Biles’ Yurchenko Double Pike is quite a difficult routine. In fact, the complications involved are so high that it was awarded a 6.4 difficulty score. To give context, the iconic Produnova vault has a difficulty score of 6. Biles’ previous routine, the eponymous vault is also rated as a 6.

Till the 2022 World Championships, the most difficult vault performed had a difficulty rating of 5.6. Such a rating did come as a surprise to Simone Biles as well. While it was expected that the routine would be valued around the 6s, it was quite a pleasant revelation that it got .4 more than the current difficult ones.

“With 6.6 being the highest Difficulty score that a gymnast can currently obtain on this apparatus, Biles’s new vault has no comparison in the Women’s Code of Points,” a FIG statement read after the element was submitted for 2020 Tokyo. “The Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Technical Committee used the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Code of Points as a reference to determine the value this vault should have.”

The University of Georgia recently recruited Cécile Canqueteau-Landi, Simone Biles’s longtime personal coach. Canqueteau-Landi, a 1996 Olympian and veteran coach, started working with Biles in late 2017 with her husband Laurent at the Biles family-owned World Champions Centre in Texas. Together, the Landis helped Biles win two Olympic and 16 World Championships medals on international mats.

The Landis provided Biles with the physical challenge and motivation she required following the Tokyo ‘twisties’ incident to redefine herself as a trailblazer in the sport. Biles is currently preparing to make the five-woman American Olympic team heading to Paris for the Summer Olympics. In talks about her fresh position, Cecile shared some of Biles’s list of maneuvers for the next gymnastics meets.

Cecile Landi talked about the ever-expanding arsenal of signature moves that 27-year-old Simone Biles will have for the 2024 season. After performing the iconic Yurchenko double pike in 2023, Biles gained recognition for it as her fifth named move fresh off a long hiatus. Discussing Biles’ options in All Things Gymnastics Podcast dated May 13, Cecile Landi told the host, “Right now she’s doing more of the double pike. I think she just wants to do it without Lauren standing on her by the side. She’s ready for it.” 

Landi also added, “The Amara is easy for her and it’s back and then the Chang and the, the bars one I can’t remember. She’s practiced that too. So you know she has a couple options.” The host then hilariously added, “Yeah, no one has more options than Simone.” To which Cecile confirmed possibly with great pride, “For sure!”

Raising the bar: How Biles revolutionized vaulting with daring feats

Notably, the most dangerous and adrenaline-rushing moves in artistic gymnastics are Cheng, The Biles, Amanar, Biles II, and Full Twisting Yurchenkois. These feats performed by female gymnasts include upside-down twisting from the vaulting table and hurling down the runway making vault routine scores so hard-earned.

Biles’s ground-breaking Yurchenko Double Pike Vault, which became her second vault named move, earned her a score of 16.100 at the US Classic of 2021. The score surpassed both of her vaults that won gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics. At the 2023 World Championship, she became the first female vaulter to land the technique at an event sanctioned by the International Gymnastics Federation. It’s now known as “Biles II” in the FIG Code of Points.

Possibly the most crucial vault in women’s gymnastics is the Amanar. When it comes to winning gymnastics twists, Team US has easily outperformed all other teams throughout history. At 4 feet 8 inches, Biles stunned the 2015 US nationals with her humanly perfect Amanar vault which earned her 16.000. Biles got 15.150 on her second vault and placed first in the event with an average of 15.575.

From the boundary-pushing to Simone Biles’s habit of producing “leap-forward” moments—the characteristic of once-in-a-generation talent—is what sets Biles apart. May 2024 US Classic is where Biles will make her Olympic season debut; tune in to witness the greatest maneuvers on shows!

Simone Biles is back. The US Classics, or Core Hydration Classics, will be underway on May 18 this year. It started in 1983 as an annual event for elite artistic gymnastics from across the United States. This competition holds paramount importance for all the participants as it is held right before the national trials. Any slip-ups for the athletes mean costing themselves a place in the national squad.

However, in cases like 2024, when it is the Olympic year, the magnitude of the event becomes even bigger. Athletes performing well have a chance of breaking into the Olympic trials. And come May 18, athletes like Simone Biles will finally make their season’s debut after a long wait. But to catch the US gymnastics queen in action, it is imperative to know the details of how to watch the event.

This year’s Core Hydration Classic will be held in Hartford, Connecticut. Initially, there was a lot of discontent among the fans about why the gymnastics events were not televised. But now they should have a big smile on their faces as the event will be televised live on Peacock and CNBC.

According to the official sources, this year’s Classics will air from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Live streaming of the same will also be available for subscribers to NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. In case a fan wants to catch all the action outside of the USA, a VPN could come in handy.

However, for those wanting to feel the thrill live from the stadium, tickets are available via the Ticketmaster app. As the hype about the Classics is soaring, the major attraction for the competition will be the much-awaited debut of Simone Biles. Coming into the tournament, the US gymnast is the favorite to win the Classics. Biles has previously established her dominance in the US Classics by clinching the title six times.

Apart from Biles, there will be other notable names, giving her tough competition as well. The likes of Suni Lee, Gabby Douglas, Jade Carey, and Jordan Chiles will also fight it out for a spot in Paris.

Biles aims to put behind her past demons

Simone Biles was verified and confirmed for the camp in April. However, she decided not to show up before the camera until the US Classics. A lot of speculation has surfaced regarding when she will be opening her Olympic season. Many people opined that the Winter Cup would witness Biles’ return, but it was not to be. Biles always starts her season a little late.

Speaking about her sporadic appearances, Biles commented back in 2023, “Sorry I’ve been a little MIA since the announcement . I’m overwhelmed with all of your messages, support & love! excited to get back out on the competition floor! XOXO ” 

Going into the US Classics, Simone Biles will be utterly focused on cracking the Olympic code this time. She did redeem herself by winning last year’s Classics. Revealing her Paris roadmap, Biles said, “I think we have to be a little bit more cautious about how we do things. So everything that we’re doing leading up to this next Games or whatever is very intentional.”

The Tokyo Olympics was deemed cursed. Simone Biles suffered a deep personal crisis—something that demanded patience; patience to heal from not holding “a lot of guilt that is not mine to hold.” Beaten and battered with insults calling her a “national embarrassment,” far from being a quitter, Biles rose herself from the ashes at the Met Gala 2021—shining brighter than the crystals on her dress or leotards and dancing her way through the red carpet in a gown graced with ostrich plumes.

Much can be owed to the fact that, in April 2021, the seven-time Olympics medalist signed up with the Gap-owned company, Athleta. This decision worked in her favor as the deal opened up opportunities and better platforms for Simone Biles. Biles’s Met Gala debut, who attended as Athleta’s guest, too was powered by the brand. But it wasn’t just usual business for her at the Gala; Biles had her own agenda.

Set against the backdrop of In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, the 2021 Met Gala primed the sports world for the much-awaited glimpse of Simone Biles. In the middle of the flash and splendor of the moment, Biles, styled by Leslie Fremar, stood as a symbol of power and resilience following her double medal exploits in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and most importantly, the backlash after her unanticipated exit. Now, Biles and Fremar coming together to create her silver-trail Area x Athleta gown couldn’t have been more timely.

The statement? It will certainly take you back to the early and mid-20th century. Josephine Baker, an American-born French burlesque dancer, is deemed one of the very first black women who starred in a major film. An advocate for civil rights, Baker used her popularity and fame to good use, a great nod to something similar that Biles is keen on doing. In fact, when Biles initially signed up with Athleta, Biles then said, “Using my voice has been very empowering for me, and I am grateful to embark on this new journey with Athleta to inspire young girls and women.”

Simone Biles told Vogue, “I personally don’t think anybody’s dress is gonna be better than mine…I’m sure everyone feels like that going in, but this is going to be a statement.”She walked in firing on all cylinders sartorially, the same way she does on the mats.

“I want to say to little girls in general, you can be tough in any sport you want to be, and you can be strong. On the other end you can come out feeling empowered and beautiful and wear gowns like this and step out of your comfort zone,” she said. “You don’t have to be just an athlete; at the end of the day we’re people too.”

Over 100 workers put in 6,650 hours to carefully sew and embellish the three pieces of apparel, which guaranteed Biles’ comfort and ease of movement throughout the evening. The outfit was a perfect combination of elegance and utility since it was made to be simple to take off the minidress and separate the skirt. In addition to highlighting the value of strength and empowerment outside of the realm of sports, Biles expressed her hope that the outfit will encourage young girls to follow their passion boldly. Most of these qualities were lacking while Biles served as a Nike athlete.

The switch by Simone Biles from Nike to Athleta was symbolic of a larger trend in which athletes gave priority to companies that shared their beliefs and promoted solidarity and inclusion. Although Nike has long dominated the sponsorship scene with its financial might, incidents involving the company’s treatment of female athletes and sponsored athletes have long undermined its righteous image. As part of their advocacy, Olympic champions Biles and Allyson Felix, among others, chose to sign with Athleta, a brand that has been serving both of them well as opposed to Nike.

Biles also highlighted how Athleta and her 2021 Met Gala appearance was inspiring for women athletes. She said, “I want to say to little girls in general, you can be tough in any sport you want to be, and you can be strong. On the other end, you can come out feeling empowered and beautiful and wear gowns like this and step out of your comfort zone.” One thing’s for sure though, Athleta has made good on its promise and Biles is sure to put all her faith into this behemoth brand being the cradle of her life’s choices.

USA Gymnastics are gearing up for the Olympics and they are not short of protein. As per the recent announcement, the leading peanut butter brand in the US, SKIPPY, has joined hands with the US Gymnastics. They have been named as the official peanut butter partner of the USAG ahead of the Paris Olympics. According to the details of the deal, SKIPPY would be in charge of refueling the energy levels of the young athletes.

SKIPPY will be providing their products to the gymnasts at their national camps and major tournaments. However, their activities will not only be limited to providing snacks for the athletes. In fact, the team from SKIPPY will collaborate and take up various measures to promote gymnastics as a sport on various platforms.

Welcoming the brand with open arms, USA Gymnastics seemed excited to work together with SKIPPY, whose parent brand, Hormel Foods, boasts more than $19 billion. Reflecting similar emotions, the Chief Operating Officer of the USAG, Lauryn Turner, stated, “We are very excited to welcome SKIPPY® peanut butter as our official peanut butter.” Further elaborating on their decision to get the peanut butter brand onboard, Turner explained the need for protein for the young guns. He said, “Protein is critically important to athletes’ training and aids in recovery after workouts, and SKIPPY® peanut butter is a great snack for athletes of all levels to enjoy.” 

However, it was not only the USAG that seemed gleeful, representatives from SKIPPY also shared their thrill to be a part of the journey. Associate Brand Manager Sam Hovick cited the gymnasts’ ability to grab a quick break in between the strenuous routine as their inspiration for developing their products. Narrating his own experience with SKIPPY, Senior Manager Kelsey Tynan said, “I grew up in the USAG program, and SKIPPY® Peanut Butter is what fueled me through numerous practices.” 

Tynan also said that SKIPPY would try their best to provide top-class nourishment for the athletes on their journey towards greatness. With such hype around the new collab, fans had a lot to say about the deal.

Gymnastics fans give their two cents on the SKIPPY-USAG collab

The announcement on X immediately went viral. Gymnastics enthusiasts from all over the USA chimed in with their sentiments.

One of the X users suggested a humorous award for the winners of the Classics. They suggested a “large jar of peanut butter” as the award. This would likely add a whimsical twist on traditional awards, adding a quirky and unexpected element to the event.

One fan expressed their excitement about the snacks that will be available at meets this summer. With great enthusiasm, they probably referred to the peanut butter that might be available in the event and to be honest, no amount of peanut butter has done anyone any harm, apart from smacking their lips in delight and awe.

One Gymnastics enthusiast jokingly expressed a strong desire for free peanut butter. They mentioned that if upon entering the XL Center in the coming weekend they don’t get free peanut butter they would ‘riot’. This collab might just be the much needed godsend to fuel peanut butter sales and bolster gymnasts and the audiences to roar and perform in rapture.

One X user expressed their enthusiasm for this collaboration. Citing the reason behind their inclination towards this brand, they mentioned that Skippy is their “Absolute favorite brand”. As the Skippy Peanut butter contains only natural ingredients and no soy, which makes it all the more delectable and a fan favorite compared to the other brands out there.

The excitement of Skippy Peanut butter partnering with USA Gymnastics convinced one of the fans to pursue gymnastics seriously. Their love and affinity towards the brand is remarkably high as one user noted that if peanut butter is the incentive to drive dreams, then she would definitely become a gymnast, as was hinted by the post.

The excitement of Skippy Peanut butter partnering with USA Gymnastics convinced one of the fans to pursue gymnastics seriously. Their love and affinity towards the brand is remarkably high as one user noted that if peanut butter is the incentive to drive dreams, then she would definitely become a gymnast, as was hinted by the post.

As the 2024 Olympics is around the corner, Simone Biles is steadily preparing herself. Earlier, when Biles withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she was afraid that America would hate her or even ban her from participating further. But she made a strong comeback in 2022 and won her eighth U.S. individual title and has been performing well since then.

To begin this season, initially, the seven-time Olympic gymnast was poised to join the US women’s first national team camp, with a total of 26 participants. But, in a surprising turn of events, Simone didn’t participate in the Team USA camp. Despite missing it, a recent social media video of Simone Biles showcased some of the stunning shots of her performing in various competitions.

Reposting this video on her story Biles captioned, “almost that time again, t-2 weeks.” She further wrote, “I Could Vomit” along with the clip. The original post carried the caption, “Got to shoot one of the greats .”  Apparently, with that comment, she referred to the nervousness of starting the season. Biles is set to make her Olympic 2024 season debut, starting May 17th and 18th, at the U.S. Core Hydration Classic in Hartford, Connecticut.

When USA Gymnastics announced the full lineup for the event on April 12 via Twitter, it was reported that Simone Biles will be joined by 2021 Olympic teammates Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles. However, the participation of 2012 Olympic champion Gabby Douglas is expected to be confirmed later. As the event nears, many might recall last year’s Core Hydration Classic where Simone made a smashing comeback after a hiatus post-Tokyo.

Biles took away the win in all-around (59.100), floor exercise (14.900), and beam (14.800). Alongside, she added a bronze (14.000) on the uneven bars. But the highlight of that 2023 night in NOW Arena was probably her performance. Shattering her twisties horror, she performed a beautiful Yurchenko double pike; the signature dreaded vault of Simone Biles. That brought her a massive score of 15.400. Moreover, the Yurchenko double pike was named after her.

The 7,200-strong crowd of the arena roared in excitement to welcome their queen back. When Simone takes the stage at Hartford this year, enthusiasts will undoubtedly be looking forward to an action replay of her last year’s performance. Let’s take a look at how she reigned.

This event will also serve as a crucial qualifier for the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships in May and the U.S. Olympic Trials in June. Both will be essential steps in Biles’ quest to secure a spot on the 2024 U.S. Olympic team. However, on the way, Simone very much knows the importance of mental wellbeing apart from training. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics made her learn it the hard way.

Last year, one day before the team final for the competition was announced, Biles wrote on Instagram she felt “like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times.” Eventually, that pressure of expectation completely broke her. Recently, she once again opened up on the Tokyo days, when she was “fighting demons” of the twisties.

Laurent Landi told Simone Biles to start from scratch 

During the Tokyo Olympics, Simone was already having twisties when she was training, she revealed in the recent Call Her Daddy podcast. But she decided to compete for the sake of the team. But that push did not make her overcome the situation, rather her mental crisis became clearer to her. “I literally felt like I was fighting my body and my mind to do these tricks… it looks like I’m going like this in the air and it doesn’t feel comfortable. I have no idea where I am, but I’m twisting like praying land on my feet,” she expressed about her feelings back then.

Not only this, but instantly, she had a feeling that her country was going to reject her for not performing well. “As soon as I landed, I was like, oh, America hates me. The world is gonna hate me. And I can only see what they’re saying on Twitter right now… I was, I thought I was gonna be banned from America because that’s what they tell you. Don’t come back if it’s not gold, gold or bust, don’t come back,” Simone revealed on the podcast. The entire situation warranted lengthy healing.

So Simone moved away from the mats for nearly two years. But even then she could not come back to her usual self. So much so that she was not sure of her competing in 2023. But her two pillars came forward to get Biles back on her feet. Cecile and Laurent Landi brought Simone out of those traces of twisties horror. Recalling that, Simone said, “Whenever Laurent (Landi) last year, he told me I was competing. I was like, how can I compete? I’m not over the twisties yet. Because every time I went to bars or beam or floor, I was praying that I did the amount of twist I was supposed to.” But the Core Hydration Classics gave Simone the boost she needed. The momentum pulled her further at the US Championships.

Simone captured the title for a historic eighth time with a combined score of 118.450, nearly four full points better than the runner-up (Shilese Jones: 114.550). This feat also broke a 90-year-old set previously by Alfred Jochim ( 7 titles) and earned her place for the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. In 2013, that was the place from where Simone’s rise had started.

Simone Biles can’t perform certain gymnastics moves! Kelly Clarkson pointed out recently in her talk show. However, the credit goes to Fred Richard’s joint video with the legend, made for the upcoming Gold Over America tour program. In her conversation with Fred Richard, Kelly Clarkson spoke at length regarding that video where Simone Biles and Fred Richards were trying each other’s moves. But showing that video, Fred revealed Simone Biles’ inability to emulate male gymnasts’ moves and vice versa. That part was quickly picked up by Kelly Clarkson.

In his further disbursal, Fred informed Kelly that both Simone and he threw a challenge to each other by copying each other’s artistic gymnastic moves. To everyone’s awe, both standouts failed terribly. Simone couldn’t land Fred’s cartwheeling-type moves on the floor. On the other hand, Fred Richards could not do a ditto of Simone Biles’ full stretch jump on the floor. At first, Kelly assumed that both would have effectively adapted to each other’s moves since they were playing the same sport. But upon hearing about their inability, she swiftly entered the scene to exclaim, “That actually made me feel better,” as this inability made Simone Biles and Fred Richard appear more human. But also, she had some suggestions for the all-around bronze medalist.

Kelly Clarkson suggested Fred have their practice schedule by switching the sports “as the sports go hand in hand”. However, Fred displayed his glee over this. But at the same time, he argued that it might feel like “starting from the scratch”, for Simone Biles as well. However, Fred nurtures a special interest in switching sports. In the past, he tried some. In one such case, Fred included several basketball and football players to teach them backflips. Fred did not stop there.

He also divulged that he taught backflip to some singers as well. Kelly couldn’t hold her excitement after hearing this. But the question regarding the gymnastics ability of the most decorated gymnast ever in history stole the limelight in Kelly Clarkson’s talk show. Hang on before reaching a conclusion about Simone’s ability! Take a moment to recall what happened at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships last year.

Simone Biles did break into the ‘male territory’  

Last year in Belgium, Simone Biles successfully pulled off the gymnastic vault, Yurchenko double pike. Its difficulty level made only a few men attempt it in the past. Eventually, Simone became the first woman gymnast to perform it on an international platform. So, in that respect, the vault gained the name of Biles II. Furthermore, the international regulatory body set a difficulty score of 6.4 for this vault – the highest difficulty score among the vaults. But what does it make so difficult?

It is mainly doing back handspring onto the vault table and lastly concluding the move with two double flips. But that makes it so difficult that only a few male gymnasts had attempted it successfully in the past. Describing the difficulty level, Simone’s personal coach, Laurent Landi, once said, “What’s scary [is], people can get hurt…You do a short landing, it can hurt your ankles. It’s very dangerous vault.” The gymnastic raconteur, Dave Lease elaborated further.

“This is something that only a handful of men can do without serious bodily harm. She actually did the vault extremely well”, he said. Simone Biles pushed her limit to that level when she attempted this vault several times – at the US Classic and other national gymnastics championships. So here lies Simone Biles’ supremacy- to perform unthinkable things with an ease that may put everyone in disbelief!