HOFFMAN ESTATES: Simone Biles made a triumphant return to gymnastics on Saturday after a two-year hiatus, dominating the US Classic as she eclipsed the field by an enormous margin in her first competition since the Tokyo Olympics.
Biles, a 19-time world champion, electrified a sellout crowd in suburban Chicago with a stunning performance, receiving an all-around judges’ total score of 59.100 points.
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 the 26-year-old took the podium.
The “twisties,” which cut short Biles’ Tokyo run, were nowhere in sight on Saturday as the US gymnast appeared back to her previous, top-notch form after taking more than a year off from the sport.
Biles began on the uneven bars, where her strong performance received a score of 14.000 points, third-best overall.
She followed by going first on balance beam and delivering a spectacular 14.800, the meet’s top score.
Biles went last in rotation three on floor exercise and drew cheers during and after every tumbling run, her flips and landings on incredible passes bringing a roar at the finish of an effort that was rewarded with a meet-best 14.900 points.
She finished on vault and unleashed another epic performance, soaring high and landing well, earning a meet-best 15.400 score.
Leanne Wong, 19, finished second, five points off the pace on 54.100, with Joscelyn Roberson, 17, third on 54.050.
Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2023
