Simone Biles has made her return to international gymnastics competition, marking her first major event since the Tokyo Olympics.
Biles, the most decorated gymnast in US history, will compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, where she made her world championships debut.
“Antwerp gave me all the confidence I needed going forward. When I came into 2013, I was literally a nobody,” she noted.
This appearance at the World Championships is significant for Biles, as it marks her American record sixth world championships.
It also brings her journey full circle, as she previously took a two-year break after her first Olympic Games in 2016.
However, this time, she wasn’t sure if her break would be finite. Biles returned to gym training for fitness reasons in September 2022 and shared her serious comeback plans with her coach, Cecile Landi, in March.
Biles leads a strong US women’s team aiming to secure a record-breaking seventh consecutive world team title, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of her first world gold medal.
The team is heavily favored, boasting top gymnasts in the all-around, including Biles, Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, Skye Blakely, and rookie Joscelyn Roberson.
Russia, the reigning Olympic team champions, is absent from the competition due to sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine. This could impact their ability to qualify a team for the Paris Olympics, pending rule changes
