Sometimes even Simone Biles needs a few words of encouragement.
The most decorated gymnast in U.S. history led the team to a career-high score of 172.296 during the qualifying round of the team gymnastics competition at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Biles overcame a sore ankle and the recent memory of her disappointing performance at the Tokyo 2020 Games to record the highest scores of the day on floor and vault.
She later showed some modesty on Instagram, writing that she is “grateful to be able to do what I love.”
But her teammate Jade Carey didn’t listen.
Biles smiles after competing on the uneven bars during Sunday’s competition in Paris
USA’s Jade Carey reacts after her floor exercise performance
“You’re a star,” Carey wrote to the four-time Olympic gold medalist.
Not to be outdone, Biles’ husband also chimed in on the conversation.
“You’re doing it, kiddo,” wrote Jonathan Owens, who is preparing to begin his first season in the Chicago Bears’ secondary.
Biles, 27, is in the mix to compete in all four team finals events despite a calf injury. Biles injured her left calf while warming up for the floor exercise during Sunday’s qualifying. Still, she topped the all-around with the highest scores on floor and vault.
The competition begins at 12:15 p.m. EDT at Bercy Arena. The Americans are the favorites to win gold after finishing second behind Russia in 2021.
Biles’ teammate Jordan Chiles will also compete in all four events. Chiles finished fourth in the all-around competition during qualifying, behind Biles, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and 2020 Olympic champion Sunisa Lee.
Jade Carey didn’t want to hear about Simone Biles’ modesty on social media
Not to be outdone, Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, also weighed in on the conversation.
Owens (left) recently left the Packers to sign with the rival Chicago Bears.
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Last week, U.S. team leaders had considered leaving Biles off the uneven bars in the team finals to give her a little break during the Games. Instead, Biles will compete in all events during the finals, when three gymnasts compete and all three scores count. Her husband, Jonathan Owens, is expected to be in attendance.
The Americans are the heavy favorites to win gold after finishing second to Russia in Tokyo three years ago.
Biles will take last place for the United States in three events (vault, floor exercise and balance beam) and will take second place on uneven bars.
Jordan Chiles, who finished fourth in the all-around competition during qualifying behind Biles, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and 2020 Olympic champion Sunisa Lee, will also compete in all four events.
Chiles, part of the U.S. team that won the silver medal three years ago, will lead the vault, bars and balance beam events and finish second behind Lee on floor exercises.
Lee will be the third American to perform her specialty on uneven bars. She will be second on beam and first on floor exercise.
The only unexpected change to the lineup will be on floor, where 2020 Olympic floor exercise champion Jade Carey will sit. Carey, who will vault, struggled on floor during qualifying and said afterward that she is dealing with an illness.
Hezly Rivera, the youngest member of the five-woman team at 16, is not scheduled to compete. Rivera was part of the lineup on bars and beam during qualifying, though her scores on each event were removed from the team total.
