Simone Biles received an emotional reaction from her mother and NFL star husband Jonathan Owens at the US Championships, as the gymnast stepped up her preparations for the Paris Olympics with another title on the books.
In front of a sold-out audience that included Owens sitting front row in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday, Biles, 27, performed a four-rotation clinic that had all the hallmarks of a typical performance.
He displayed astonishing athleticism mixed with precision and more than a touch of arrogance, in front of his breathless mother, Nellie.
Six months ago, Chicago Bears safety Owens revealed that he had no idea who the four-time Olympic gold medalist was when they started dating in 2020, sparking a backlash on social media.
However, at the end of this weekend, Biles posted a two-day total of 119.750, nearly six points ahead of runner-up Skye Blakely.
Simone Biles competes in floor exercises during the US championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
Biles’ mother and husband were captivated by the athleticism and precision of the gymnast, Sun.
She left no doubt that she appears ready to add a second full Olympic gold in addition to the one she captured in 2016.
Biles also finished with the highest two-day score in all four events, something she had only done once before at nationals (2018), to build plenty of momentum ahead of the Olympic trials later this month in Minneapolis.
His only misstep on Sunday was on the jump. She came up short on Ella Yurchenko’s double pike (two backflips with hands clasped behind both knees) during warmups and overcompensated when necessary, generating so much force that she ended up on her back.
She still received 15,000 for her effort, a testament to a jump that has never been completed in competition by another woman and was only attempted by a select group of men.
Not that it bothered him. Biles composed herself, took a few deep breaths, and then performed a Cheng vault that was rewarded with a 15.1 and put a ninth national title within reach, heady territory considering no other gymnast in the history of the sport in the U.S. The US has more than Seven.
Owens and Biles have been in a relationship in 2020. Pictured at a Packers playoff game in January.
Biles is a four-time Olympic gold medalist. He crashed onto the world stage in Rio in 2016.
While Biles remains above the fray as usual, there is plenty of competition for the other four spots on the five-woman U.S. team that will head to Paris as the heavy favorite to return to the top of the podium after finishing second behind of Russia in Tokyo three years ago.
Blakely, 19, turned in another impressive performance and will head to Minneapolis with plenty of momentum.
Three years after her bid to make the 2020 Olympic team ended with injury, Blakely is peaking at the right time.
Suni Lee, the 2020 Olympic champion who has spent more than a year battling kidney problems that have limited her training, overcame an early mistake on vault to create graceful routines on uneven bars and balance beam like few others in the world, Even Biles. – may match.
His goal is to add a second complete Olympic gold in addition to the one he captured in 2016.
Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey are in contention, although both suffered falls on the beam on Sunday.
Third-place finisher Kayla DiCello went off the uneven bars. Leanne Wong, perhaps looking fatigued after a long season competing in Florida, also suffered unusual errors.
Shilese Jones, considered the best gymnast in the United States without the last name Biles, withdrew from the championships on Friday, citing a shoulder injury, although she said Sunday that she was feeling better and plans to be available for tryouts.
So will 18-year-old Kaliya Lincoln, who opted not to compete Sunday after tweaking something during Friday night’s opening session.
Both, if healthy, appear to be serious contenders to earn an invitation to Paris (Jones in particular). If not, the door could open wide for others and test the depth the elite senior program has been touting for years.
