The GOLD OVER AMERICA is all about nurturing the humane expression in gymnastic sports. So as a part of the show, the squad travels to the American cities to showcase their abilities and thus to increase interest around the sport. Simone Biles holds the reins of this celebration and her national compatriots, such as Jordan Chiles. Jade Carrey and Joscelyn Roberson play a special part in it. But this time, several fresh faces will also join them in the endeavor.

The announcement came earlier about the ticket availability. As a cherry on the cake, the official website of GOLD OVER AMERICA displayed the names of Kayla DiCello and Peng-Peng Lee, who are joining the squad. Among the male gymnasts, Casimir Schmidt is to be included. The Dutch male gymnast may attract the limelight for being a veteran of the sport. Katelyn Ohashi, the legend from WOGA, will also turn up for this gymnastic festivity sponsored by Athleta. This year the GOLD OVER AMERICA has returned after a gap of two years.

After 2021, the Pandemic and lack of participation stopped it from going live. This time, the major sponsor, Athleta, has looked to heighten the celebration. The inclusion of prominent gymnastic faces is proof of that. The celebration will travel to 30 major American cities from September to November this year. After the success of the promo in March, this will be the prime instance GOLD OVER AMERICA will come to the budding gymnasts. Simone Biles had a significant role in welcoming her fellow citizens to this groundbreaking event.

In March this year, Shilese Jones joined Simone Biles in the GOLD OVER AMERICA promo. The duo appeared among the teenagers to share tips regarding the gymnastics schedule. But with that, Simone taught the budding gymnasts about the importance of mental health in the sport. She explained her post-Tokyo Olympics mental state and meanwhile, answered the need to tackle such complications. The eager trainees couldn’t hold their excitement after witnessing the legends in front of their eyes. So with the fun, the reverence played an important role in the GOLD OVER AMERICA promo camp.

The learning camp will also showcase gymnasts like Fred Richard, who have earned success at an early age and presently hold the NIL deals. Another part is that the event will take place just after the Paris Olympics. So, budding gymnasts might receive the inputs on participation in such a high platform. So, it is going to be an all-around experience.

Great Britain’s gymnastics team is capable of posing a significant threat to Team USA at the Paris Olympics. In Tokyo, they finished just below the USA’s squad for a bronze medal and have had success in recent tournaments. But a recent run of injuries and a surprising development may hamper their chances at the upcoming Games while providing a massive chance to the USA contingent.

Veteran GB gymnast Ondine Achampong withdrew from the European Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championship due to a torn ACL. This would likely rule her out of Paris, denting Team GB’s chances.

Jessica Gadirova is also going through an ACL injury scare and the chances of her return are also faint. On the other hand, a dislocated elbow has posed a question mark on Alice Kisella’s chances for Paris. Amid all this came another shock when Amelie Morgan called time on her elite gymnastics career.

Notably, Kisella, Gadirova, and Morgan were members of the GB team that won bronze in Tokyo. They were sitting just behind the USA’s squad who grabbed the silver with 166.096. Team GB’s score was 164.096. GB might find it difficult to form a team with equivalent experience, as it has become a race against time now. Such a situation might prove to be fruitful for Biles and her compatriots. But that’s not all.

Amidst, the injury crisis, the head coach of Britain’s women’s gymnastics team, David Kenwright has also stepped down on the eve of the European Championships with the Olympics less than 100 days away. He had led Team GB to a silver at the World Championships in 2022 and a European team gold last year.

He was also the man behind Britain’s first Olympic women’s team medal in 93 years at the Tokyo Games. But his decision to quit the team, coupled with the injury crisis, has fans worried about Team GB’s chances in Paris.

“Seems kinda screwed,” Fans worry about Team GB’s chances at Paris Olympics

Ondine Achampong informed about her withdrawal from the European Championships earlier this week. On Instagram, she revealed, “As most of you know I had to pull out of the European Championships earlier this week. I landed a bars dismount at one of our final control competitions at Lilleshall and following an MRI scan it was discovered that I’ve torn my ACL. I feel devastated..”  Fans were equally devastated it seemed.

One such fan commented about Ondine’s injury and the less fortunate situation that followed Team GB: “That hope died with Ondine’s injury. Amelie would’ve been helpful, but with two of their top three out it wasn’t going to happen either way.”

The further discussion on the present situation of the British team was not pleasant as several arguments came up on the dwindling state. But it could be a chance for the American team as both Amelie and Ondine proved their mettle on the floor exercise in several past instances. So their absence from the lineup might help American gymnasts like Jade Carey who hold distinct artistry on the floor exercise.

Morgan is also a 2022 world silver medalist who has the rare distinction of being successful in both elite and college gymnastics. In the national leotard, she has a Tokyo Olympic bronze medal and at the NCAA realm, she boasts of having a Pac-12 All-Academic selection.

A fan also grieved over the absence of Ondine and Morgan. But with that, they suggested several replacements for the British lineup. “Who’s most likely to make the team now? I have to imagine Alice, Becky, Georgia-Mae, Ruby Evans and someone else?” they wrote. Among the names mentioned Georgia-Mae Fenton is a member of the 2022 World silver medal-winning team.

But such suggestions remained futile to several fans. Another user thinks these injuries mean Team GB may not be competitive enough in the Olympics. They wrote, “Geez, GB seems kinda screwed. Who have they got that are locks now. Who’s in position to fight for remaining spots?”

Jessica Gadirova, out injured currently, has been a three-time World medalist while also having 5 European Championships in her kitty. It does look like Team GB is out of nearly all of their best players and someone put it down to luck. They wrote, “GB are out of luck!”

Interestingly, despite the presence of some of these top players, the British team finished behind the USA at the 2022 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Also in the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships, Team GB remained far behind, in the sixth position.

Is Simone Biles going to retire after the 2024 Paris Olympics? This question is keeping her fans on their toes after her coach, Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, decided to move to Athens in Georgia. While she does not have much experience when it comes to collegiate gymnastics, her success in professional gymnastics is remarkable.

Therefore, she secured the position ahead of some veteran NCAA coaches like Jordyn Wieber (the Razorbacks’ coach), Owen Field (the Gators’ assistant coach), and Tim Garrison (the Kentucky coach). For several years, the French gymnastics veteran, along with her husband Laurent, brought out some of the best gymnasts in the nation. Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Alyssa Baumann, and Joscelyn Roberson are a few in that lineup.

Understandably, with the Olympics a few months away, it is high time for the coaching duo and their athletes to work hard. But with the sudden departure of Cecile Landi, things seem to be in the deep water now. However, WCC has come out clean on the matter. In its latest notice, the gymnastics training facility has promised to unveil a new name for Cecile’s position by June 1.

Cecile has been like a pillar to Simone, especially when Simone had to back out of the Tokyo Olympics because of the twisties. Interestingly, Simone had even talked of her retirement after the Tokyo Olympics. “I am in pain most of the time… I definitely plan for the Tokyo Olympics to be my last,” Biles said. “I feel like my body’s gone through a lot and it’s kind of just falling apart,” she has confessed. But right before the 2020 Olympics, it was Cecile and her husband who convinced Biles to come back after Tokyo and participate in Paris.

Back then, solely focusing on Tokyo, the gymnast said, “Cecile and Laurent are from Paris, so they’ve kind of guilted me into coming back as a specialist. But the main goal is the Olympics first, then the tour [Simone’s planned tour around the US after Tokyo], and then we’ll have to see.” 

As Simone is all set to fulfill that Parisian dream of the Landis, one of them leaves her side. Therefore, some fans went on to argue that with the pillar gone, this might be the end of Simone Biles as well. Her retirement thoughts loomed large amid this. But isn’t it the best time for Simone Biles to bow out of the sport with her head high?

NCAA or retirement: What waits for Simone Biles? Fans argue

Simone Biles’ NCAA stint was short-lived. She had committed to the UCLA Bruins back in 2014. But then she figured out her love for pro gymnastics. That made her withdraw from the program and the rest is history. But in an interview with Leah Faye Cooper of Vanity Fair, she even shared, “I just wanted to try to do college gymnastics.” Amid Cecile Landi’s move, fans seriously brought up that possibility with one fan enquiring if Simone still has NCAA eligibility.

As per the notification from WCC, Laurent Landi will remain at the WCC in the future. That added fuel to several questions. A fan expressed, “I’m severely surprised. How will that work being states away from your husband for months, is that why it’s co head coaches so she can go back and forth. Does this mean we can expect a Simone retirement after the olyimpics. What about their daughter , or is she off to college next year? I have so many questions.”

“For me this is a confirmation that Simone is retiring after this Olympic Games. Otherwise it means she’s starting her college gymnastics era, at Georgia, of course,” opined another fan.

Simone has achieved it all. Above everything, she has even established her ability to fight back, which is probably one of the most prominent seals in her GOAT status. Simone herself realizes that as well, “I’m kind of at the age where I’ve been, I don’t really have any more regrets ’cause I’m a little bit older, I’m more mature. I, everything I’ve done has kind of been on like my time,” she had conceded. Further, the age factor is also there.

Simone will be 31 by the time her next Olympics run takes place. It is not an age very favorable for a sport like gymnastics. So the retirement thoughts might not be absolutely baseless. However, there are some exceptions. Remember Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan? She competed at the Tokyo Olympics at age 46 and that was her eighth appearance. But this is a rarity.

Simone Biles has been known to have congratulated Cecile on her new assignment. But this can undoubtedly be a game changer ahead of the Olympics. On Reddit, a fan echoed that sentiment, saying, “I wonder how Simone, and all the other WCC athletes are feeling.” Cecile had become almost synonymous with Simone.

Another fan shared, “With as many elites as they have, I imagine they’ll hire another elite coach, but my first thought is wondering if this is a signal that Simone is retiring after this season.”

“This isn’t just a simple coaching announcement to us… like I’d really love some context. Either way I’m very curious to see how this all plays out,” commented a fan. As Cecile lands with another success in her kitty, people are curious about Simone’s career ahead.

Simone Biles‘ personal coach, Cecile Landi, has been confirmed to take up the co-head coach’s position with Georgia. That means Cecile Landi will end her relationship with the World Champions Centre, which lasted for 7 years. These years witnessed Simone Biles forming a formidable relationship with the coach that enabled her to overcome difficult situations from time to time. Therefore, she could not have been happier.

After noticing Cecile Landi’s shifting news, Simone Biles took to IG to post her congratulatory note to the coach. The 7x Olympic medalist touted the former French gymnast as the most deserving person to take up the role. “Can’t think of a more deserving person,” Simone wrote. Alongside, she wished a positive result from the Georgia GymDogs under the tutelage of Cecile in the upcoming NCAA gymnastics seasons. But that also means that Simone Biles will have to change her mentor in the upcoming future, ending a longstanding association.

Before moving to Texas’ World Champions Centre, the former French gymnast tried her coaching hat at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy from 2007 to 2017. After moving to WCC in 2017, Cecile Coupled with her husband Laurent in training Simone Biles. “When we started coaching Simone, I would say that we had a different kind of pressure because everyone was waiting for us, maybe, to mess up. ‘How can you get her better? How can you make her better?’ I don’t know, but she can do more. And she did,” recalled Cecile. Rest is history.

Cecile has also trained names like Joscelyn Roberson and Jordan Chiles alongside Simone Biles. However, Cecile used to nurture a special rapport with Simone. That was visibly seen after Simone Biles departed from the Tokyo Olympics, facing the twisties issue. Cecile Landi played an important role in making things smooth while thoroughly standing beside Simone in the mental health issue.

The bonds Simone Biles and Cecile Landi crafted throughout the years 

The Landi couple landed in the WCC just two years after Nellie Biles restructured the facility for the good. Since her inception in the WCC, Cecile has been known for allowing gymnasts their own space. In the Larry Nassar scandal, she supported Simone Biles and others steadfastly. “Mental health became more and more [important] in the past five years, I would say, with the scandal in USA Gymnastics and all those athletes that were abused, that’s when we saw that it did affect them way more than we ever thought,” was her take on the matter. Interestingly, it has not been a one-way process.

Cecile admitted that Simone’s battle has also made her aware about the shift in the mental health issues in recent times. “I think it’s more on a daily basis, being mindful and careful on the girls’ body language. We see them every day, so we can tell when something is off. It has definitely been a big change, and Simone has opened my eyes on a lot of things,” Cecile had explained on a previous occasion. With Cecile’s steadfast support, Simone came out victorious in her mental health battles.

After her comeback in 2023 as well, Cecile patted Simone’s back by claiming big in her ability. “She can do everything that she was doing before,” she said at the Core Hydration Classic last year. It seems that with her latest post, Simone Biles returned the favor of support that she has received from Cecile for all these years.

Team USA has had their holy triumvirate – Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, and Suni Lee, making them proud with their hat-duffing-worthy performances. The 2024 American Classic will be underway from April 26 and two of these star-studded jewels will be back with a flourish. While the entries have been announced for this edition, US gymnastics queen, Simone Arianne Biles will be sitting out. Biles usually starts her Olympic campaign late and she will kick start her journey at the US Classics scheduled for May this year.

What’s also noteworthy is that this event will be a precursor/springboard to the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Although Simone Biles will be absent, there will be no scarcity of star power for the fans to enjoy. We will also be seeing 90 in-action artistic gymnasts. Juniors like Myli Lew and Greta Krob, who also coincidentally won the Hopes Classic all-around in 2023, will be up to sweep the mats in the junior division.

Big names like Suni Lee and Gabby Douglas will be sweating it out to perfect their craft ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics. Thus, without further ado, here’s a look at some of the prominent athletes that will feature at the American and Hopes Classic 2024, sans Simone Biles.

Gabby Douglas looking for redemption 

Gabby Douglas is a 3x Olympic gold medalist. Despite her gold haul at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, Douglas decided to take a break for eight years. During this time, she ventured into the media and entertainment industry. Douglas appeared in a number of shows, including a season of ‘The Masked Dancer’, where she won a competition. The Olympian also had the honor of featuring on the covers of the Sports Illustrated and TIMES.

In February, Douglas, now with a pretty long gap in her repertoire but eyes, moves, and sinews brimming with passion, said on Hallie Jackson NOW. – “I’m still a competitor at heart,” and bemoaned that she missed her first calling – gymnastics –“After watching the 2022 championships, I was like I miss competing. … I found myself in the gym, and I was like all right, maybe I could do this again.”

Just when everyone thought that her career was over, she came back to kickstart her journey at the Winter Cup 2024. Unfortunately, tragedy struck once again as she was diagnosed with COVID-19 days before the event.

With no other option left, Douglas pulled out of the tournament with a heavy heart. However, her struggles did not faze her. She continued to grind and finally got a call to the National training camp. And now, come April 26, Gabby Douglas will be looking to gain some much-needed self-assurance going into the Paris Olympics in July. However, Douglas is not the only one looking for a comeback.

Suni Lee looking to put behind dark days 

Life seemed perfect for Suni Lee after she clinched the all-around gold at the Tokyo Olympics toppling Simone Biles. Unfortunately, fate seemed to have different plans for the budding gymnast. Soon after the Olympics, Lee was diagnosed with a severe kidney disease that almost threatened to derail her career. Speaking about her struggles, Lee stated that both of her kidneys were affected during the process. What is even more heartbreaking is the fact that her diagnosis came in when she got to the fourth stage.

In a recent interview Lee said, “If I had not gotten the other kidney disease, they wouldn’t have found out I had this kidney disease until later on, when I had Stage IV kidney failure.” However, instead of giving up, Lee made it her mission to make a strong comeback. Along with her coach, Jess Graba, Lee is slowly and steadily gaining back all her lost touch. Earlier, Suni Lee had stated – “I’m not sure if I’m doing American Classic quite yet.” but hopes and adrenaline can change the course of action for a person and that’s exactly what happened with Lee.

In fact, her confidence has made her attempt a feat that very few have had the honor of. In January, she posted videos on Instagram highlighting her new move, “The Lee’ ahead of the Paris Olympics. Explaining her move further, Lee stated that it would be a full-twisting, laid out Jaeger on the uneven bars.

This is an element that no one has dared to execute in the past. And as Lee steps into the American Classic a few hours from now, she will surely look to give her fans enough reasons to cheer. Now, speaking of athletes returning from injuries, Joscelyn Roberson is a name that comes immediately to mind.

Joscelyn Roberson was full of excitement when she qualified for the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics. Being the youngest member of the team, it was thrilling enough for Roberson to share the locker room with the likes of Simone Biles. And much to her delight, a superb performance from Simone Biles and company got Team USA adorned with the gold medal as well. Sadly, even after winning the gold, Roberson did not have a fairytale ending to her story.

While most fans might have witnessed the young gymnast smiling with the gold, the pain within was unfathomable. Trying to perfect a Cheng vault, Roberson faltered a bit with the movement. And the mess tangled her brutally. After having a terrible landing, Roberson had significant difficulty in walking. With no other options left, her coach, Laurent Landi stepped in and carried her away from the arena. Roberson’s injury ruled her out of the tournament, resulting in more embarrassment.

However, even in her pain, she didn’t refrain from acknowledging Biles and her teammates, who grabbed the gold at the event. Inside Gymnastics reflected the same in their X post. It read, “Joscelyn said she is great. She was feeling all of the emotions after Simone’s floor routine. Finding out Melanie won a bronze with her team was an incredible moment for WCC.

Roberson also said, “I was crying so many happy tears for all of us!” Unwilling to sit back and sulk, Roberson was itching to get back to her training. She got back to the gym in March 2024 and shared a couple of videos to assure her fans.

The videos portrayed her in full glory, as she performed breathtaking stunts on the floor and on the bars. Well, Roberson might be returning to the mainstream competition after a gap. But she will give in all her efforts to make sure that she delivers on her promise this time. With so many tales of redemption intriguing the fans, they will surely be in for a treat when Jade Carey steps in.

Establishing a school record and yet not winning an event is a rare occurrence. Well, for the NCAA gymnast Jade Carey, misfortune dawned on her at the NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. Competing for Oregon State, Carey set a record of 39.70 to establish Oregon’s all-around high score in the NCAA. Unfortunately, this was just short enough to deprive her of the gold medal.

Simone Arianne Biles and 139 other female survivors from the clutches of Larry Nassar have finally gotten well-deserved justice. Nassar was a medical professional handling the reigns of Team USA women’s gymnastics. He was also an employee of Michigan State when he was found guilty of sexually abusing secessionist females. As the investigation came to light, things went from bad to worse for Nassar. A total of over 500 female athletes were found to be obscenely exploited by Nassar.

What was even surprising was Nassar used to disguise his wrongdoings in the name of medical treatment. However, finally, the Department of Justice has announced settlement amounts for all the victims. And that includes US gymnastics queen Simone Biles.

A recent report stated that the Department of Justice had assigned a nine-figure settlement amount to the Larry Nassar sexual abuse survivors. This was initially reported by The Wall Street Journal and USA Today Sports. An estimated amount of $138.7 million was said to be distributed among all the 139 victims who applied for the same. Prominent names such as Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Simone Biles, among others prevail too in this reparation list. This would bring down the amount to nearly a million for the victims, including Biles.

After the accusations came to light, the FBI faced significant backlash for mishandling the investigation for almost over a decade. Speaking on the matter, Christopher Wray, FBI Director, apologized to the victims saying, “And I am especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster back in 2015 and failed, and that is inexcusable, it never should have happened.” 

Earlier, as many as 300 victims were provided with a settlement twice. While the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee sanctioned a $380 million settlement, Michigan State University allotted a $500 million compensation. Soon after the passing of the verdict, joyous reactions came pouring in.

In what was a historic win for the victim’s attorneys, their joy grew no bounds. Reflecting on the same, a group of four attorneys issued a joint statement namely, Michael Pitt, Mick Grewal, Megan Bonanni, and Thomas Behm. The statement read, “We are proud to have achieved a monumental settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice, that not only secures the recovery the survivors deserve but also holds the DOJ and FBI accountable for their failures.” 

They also hoped that such a verdict would serve as an example in the future. The attorneys presumed that the federal law would be on their toes to prevent the trauma that the victims had to go through happen again.

The return of Simone Biles to her journey toward her fourth Olympics in 2024 marks a significant moment. This comeback follows the Twisties trauma she experienced during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a challenge that continued to affect her even years after the incident. Simone Biles has been candid about the impact of the fear of twisting on her mental well-being, leading her to take a break to prioritize her mental health.

Ahead of her return in 2023, Simone Biles opened up about the mental aspect of gymnastics and her comeback, revealing, “Lots of therapy, I go once a week for almost 2 hrs.” However, in the latest revelation ahead of her 2024 return, she opened up about her struggles with therapy, admitting to dodging sessions and even ghosting her therapist as she sought to heal from her Twisties trauma.

On the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast, Simone Biles opened up about her journey with therapy and how she did not think it would work but “it’s working”. When asked about personal goals unrelated to gymnastics by Alex Cooper, Simone shared the importance of prioritizing her mental health. She admitted, “I would say to keep up with my therapy even on those hard days because I have dodged a couple of those.” With a laugh, she shared how she sometimes avoids her therapy sessions, even pretending to be unavailable, despite them being scheduled on her days off, even though her therapist is aware of it.

Discussing the experience of ghosting her therapist, Simone shared,  “I feel so guilty and so ashamed.” However, she explained that her reasons for doing so stem from feeling like she should be healed by now. She expressed, “I just feel like a record on repeat. And again, it goes back to, like, I feel like I should be healed by now. Now you’re shoving this down my throat.” So how has therapy helped her?

Simone Biles once shared, “I’ve had so much trauma, so being able to work on some of the traumas & work on healing is a blessing.” Reflecting on the benefits of seeking help, Simone shared with Alex Cooper that one lesson she has learned over the years is not to rush the healing process, a lesson she gained from therapy. She shared how therapy has positively impacted the lives of athletes like herself, saying, “So I am very grateful that I’m in therapy and thankful for the resources we have. Because before this, like no athlete was very outspoken about doing therapy or this, that, the other, or even just getting help.”

Simone Biles also expressed her gratitude for being able to be vulnerable with her fans and the community, stating, “We wouldn’t be able to do what we do.” As we reflect on her journey, it becomes evident how much effort Simone Biles has invested, both mentally and physically, to become the most decorated gymnast ever.