Simone Biles Set to Return to Competitive Gymnastics After Two-Year Hiatus

Created: JANUARY 25, 2025

Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles is poised to make her competitive comeback this August after a nearly two-year break from the sport. Organizers of the U.S. Classic announced that the four-time Olympic gold medalist will participate in the event, scheduled to start August 5th just outside of Chicago.

Biles' last official competition was at the pandemic-delayed 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she sparked crucial conversations about mental health in athletics. Her courageous decision to withdraw from several events to prioritize her well-being brought the issue to the forefront of the sporting world.

Simone Biles on the balance beam during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Biles initially gained international recognition with her stunning performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she secured gold medals in the team all-around, individual all-around, vault, and floor exercise, along with a bronze medal on the balance beam.

In Tokyo, Biles withdrew from the team finals, citing the emotional strain of the Games. This decision shifted the global spotlight onto athlete wellness. She later returned to competition for the balance beam final, earning a bronze medal and tying Shannon Miller's record for the most Olympic medals held by an American female gymnast.

Simone Biles with her bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Since the Tokyo Olympics, Biles has largely maintained a gymnastics-free presence on social media, focusing instead on her personal life. She embarked on a post-Olympic tour in the fall of 2021 and married NFL player Jonathan Owens, currently a defensive back for the Green Bay Packers.

Simone Biles preparing for the balance beam at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

While Biles' future Olympic aspirations remain undisclosed, her return to competitive gymnastics hints at a possible pursuit of a third Olympic appearance, a remarkable achievement only accomplished by Dominique Dawes (1992, 1996, and 2000) among American women gymnasts in the past half-century.

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