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