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Jul 17, 2023

Gymnastics Biles tops competition in first outing since Tokyo Games

[1/6]Simone Biles poses during the awards ceremony after winning the all-around of the Core Hydration Classic at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S. August 5, 2023. Jon Durr/USA TODAY Sports

[1/6]Simone Biles poses during the awards ceremony after winning the all-around of the Core Hydration Classic at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, U.S. August 5, 2023. Jon Durr/USA TODAY Sports via REUTERS

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Simone Biles made a triumphant return to gymnastics on Saturday in suburban Chicago, eclipsing the field by an enormous margin in her first competitive event since the Tokyo Olympics two years ago.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist dazzled fans with her sky-high tumbling and a double-flipping vault so difficult that it has never been performed by another female gymnast.

The sold-out crowd, including many young, hopeful gymnasts, erupted in deafening cheers every time Biles took the podium, and those did not go unnoticed by the 26-year-old.

"It just makes my heart warm because it's nice to come out here and have all that support, especially in a time like this where I was really nervous to compete again," Biles told reporters after the competition.

The "twisties," which cut short Biles' Tokyo run, were nowhere in sight on Saturday as the U.S. gymnast appeared back to her previous, top-notch form after taking more than a year off from the sport.

During that break she prioritized her mental health, which became a major focus following her abrupt withdrawal from the team finals in Tokyo. "I’m still continuing to work on myself and go to therapy," Biles said, stressing the importance of a mental break.

That effort seemed to have proven worthwhile. "I think I’m in better shape than I was in 2021," she said. "I think that goes mentally and physically."

Biles returned to high-level training this year, announcing in late June she would join the talent-packed roster at Saturday's Core Hydration U.S. Classic, just one year out from the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But she said she was taking things one step at a time, the next goal being national championships at the end of this month.

"Who knows, I'm not going to think too far ahead," Biles said when asked about her plans. "Right now I think I should just embrace what happened today (and) be happy."

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Thomson Reuters

As a columnist for Reuters, Karen focuses on all aspects of the global agriculture markets with a primary focus in grains and oilseeds. Karen comes from a strong science background and has a passion for data, statistics, and charts, and she uses them to add context to whatever hot topic is driving the markets. Karen holds degrees in meteorology and sometimes features that expertise in her columns. Follow her on Twitter @kannbwx for her market insights.