The 2024 Winter Cup was set to be one of the most exciting gymnastics events, marking a firm beginning to the Olympic year. The return of celebrated names like that of Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, and Suni Lee had the enthusiasts on their toes expecting a spectacle. However, owing to reasons of choice or circumstances unavoidable, only one of these names remains in contention.

Simone Biles’ absence from the Winter Cup has been known information since the event’s early waves. While it infused a visible void, it was Gabby Douglas and Jordan Chiles’ withdrawal later that etched a bitterness in the industry. The former cited COVID as the reason for her comeback delay while Chiles fell victim to a tweaked shoulder.  Nonetheless, despite the chaos around, it is now Suni Lee alongside 40 others who will carry the persisting excitement forward.

Suni Lee marches ahead

The stage in Louisville, Kentucky, will be the 2020 Olympic all-around champion’s first elite one in months. After being diagnosed with an ‘incurable kidney disease,’ Suni Lee had to give up on the 2023 Worlds and the Pan American Championships. While the path demanded strength to give up and to continue, the gymnast prioritized her needs to fetch to routine helping her back on the mats. Now, in doing so, the 20-year-old has touched down in Louisville.

“Hiii,” Suni Lee wrote in her recent Instagram update. The post included an image presenting a bird’s eye view of the city with L&N Stadium taking the highlighted corner. In the update that followed, the Olympian excitedly showed off her pass for the venue. And rightly so, for the 20-year-old has blazed through adversities to find hope, passion, and spirit for what her domain further holds.

The gymnast readies for the Winter Cup and beyond

It has taken a lot for Suni Lee to get out of the slump and back onto the mats. “During that time, I was honestly not doing a lot of anything good for me, I was just kind of rotting in my bed and hoping that it would all go away,” Lee told Olympics.com. Nonetheless, with the right push from her coach Jess Graba, the Olympian was able to find her way through.

At the Winter Cup, the gymnast will be taking on the bars and beams with hopes of debuting a flawless new skill. “I feel really prepared on beam. Bars… I’m feeling pretty good,” she added. Following her run at the Winter Cup, the Olympic champion will have a chance at having an element named for her. It will further be tagged along by her hopes to make it to Baku in March. The youngster who experienced light being pulled off her life months ago has finally found the sparkle.

Simone Biles had a spectacular run for the 2023 gymnastics season returning to the mats after almost two years. The 7-time Olympic gold medalist blazed through the US Classics and then the Worlds to announce her persisting dominance. Now having made that clear, Biles seems to be on a well-deserved break and more so, with NFL husband, Jonathan Owen’s off-season run.

Simone Biles has been seen catching up with friends and family well through the last months of 2023. However, the only missing piece in the gymnast’s justified pause was some vacation time with the Packers’ safety. Now with Biles’ withdrawal from the Winter Cup and Owens’ end to the NFL season, a romantic getaway seemed to tick all the right boxes for the couple.

Simone Biles teases a getaway with Jonathan Owens

About two days ago, Simone Biles took to her Instagram stories to share a quick glimpse of her tropical getaway. The update involved a walk on the beach with Owens followed by, “Ready to go on vacation again.” Following up with the news, the gymnastics icon today took to social media yet again for a quick sneak into her vacation time. The first of the stories presented an image from a plane window overlooking the ocean and a sea of green mountains below. Expressing her excitement, Biles added little heart eyes and a shy smile indicating happiness.

A couple of glasses of ice-filled drinks and a message for spectators and possibly Owens framed Simone Biles’ stories next. “Prepared to be sick of me,” the gymnast wrote, hinting at speculative vacation spam and loads of excitement. Biles seems to be keeping the destination a secret from the fans as she masked the details in the arrival update that followed. The vacation for the two comes days after Simone’s Valentine’s Day celebrations away from her husband.

A dual celebration of love

A day ahead of Valentine’s Day, Simone Biles’ updates carried moments of cherishable notes, not with Owens but with her girl gang. “Galentines,” Simone’s caption read as the post entailed glittery clicks with chocolate-dipped strawberries, pink drinks, and a mirror reading, “Girls just wanna have fun.” However, while Owens may have missed out on the glamorous party, a warming note for his better half wasn’t lost on him the next day.

“Happy Valentine’s Day to my best friend ❤️❤️ I can’t believe that it’s been 2 years since this amazing day, man does time fly. You’re my rock, I feel like I can accomplish anything as long as I have you by my side…” Owens post read. The busy couple has always been able to balance their professional and personal lives. Marking two years into their engagement, the ambitious athletes are an example of real relationship goals.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates on Simone Biles’ vacation!

With the Paris Olympics approaching fast, the qualification scenarios are getting interesting with each passing day. Likewise, the recent release of the Paris Olympics 2024 Artistic Gymnastics team draw has sent fans into a frenzy. The draws mark the beginning of the Olympic rivalry and the discussions are not stopping.

Still fresh from the glory of the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Simone Biles and team would look to replicate the good work. However, along with them, the men’s team would also like to set the score straight after settling for a bronze behind Japan & China.

Team USA all set for gymnastics glory

The biggest name on the list is surely Simone Biles. Not only the US, but the entire world would be looking at how Biles will fare in the upcoming games. To add to the anticipation, the recently released schedule shows that the reigning world champions US women will initiate proceedings in subdivision 2 on the beam. On the contrary, the men will commence on pommel horse which will be in subdivision 1. Starting off their journey on July 28, the US women would be keen to regain dominance after China clinched the gold in 2020.

Basking in the golden dream in the 2012 & 2016 games, the silver medal finish has somewhat tainted the untouchable aura of Team US. China too, would look to thwart the US threat similar to 2020 as they begin their quest on vault in subdivision 2. Other significant developments include Brazil commencing on Vault in Subdivision 3 and Great Britain will begin on Vault in Subdivision 1.

Shifting focus on the men’s division, champion Japan will be starting off on Vault in subdivision 2 according to the draws. Their chances in the Olympics would highly depend on last year’s overall winner, Daiki Hashimoto. The draws were held at the FIG HQ on Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland. While the stage is now set, things are looking quite bright for the women of the US.

Team USA Women fancy their chances after a dominating World Championship in Antwerp

With an accumulated score of 167.729, the USA women recorded a historic seventh consecutive team gold at the 2023 Worlds. Expectedly, Simone Biles was again the star of the show. However, significant contributions from Leanne Wong, Joscelyn Roberson, Shi Jones, and Skye Blakely in the final meant Brazil had to settle with silver accounting for 165.530.

Such a dominant victory has sent the expectations of the fans shooting through the roof. Biles, who had a forgettable Tokyo Olympic courtesy of her “twisties” and later mental wellness issues, has vowed to make a comeback. All in all, with the Olympic bells ringing, fans will wait with bated breath to witness the glorious crownings.

Simone Biles has made history with an incredible comeback after a two-year hiatus, cementing her GOAT status by becoming the most decorated gymnast of all time. Biles competed in the World Artistic Gymnastic Championships in Belgium where she took home four gold medals bringing her to a total of 37. Geoff Bennett discussed Biles’ return to competition with Christine Brennan of USA Today.

Simone Biles has made history with an incredible comeback after a two-year hiatus, cementing her GOAT status by becoming the most decorated gymnast of all time this weekend.

Biles competed in the World Artistic Gymnastic Championships in Belgium, where she took home four gold medals. That brings her to a total of 37 medals between World Championships and the Olympics. Biles won two of those medals this weekend in the balance beam and bar events.

To discuss Biles’ return to competition, we’re joined now by Christine Brennan of USA Today.

Christine, it’s always great to see you.

So, Simone Biles is now the most decorated gymnast in history, male or female, 37 medals, as we mentioned, a whopping 27 of which are gold. Have we ever seen anything like this in any sport, especially given all that Simone Biles has overcome?

Simone Biles blazed 2023 with her return to gymnastics. She not only became the all-around world champion for the sixth time, but she also became the most decorated gymnast ever. Biles shattered numerous records throughout 2023, leaving fans captivated as she expressed her aspirations for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

However, as the Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, the qualifier for the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, draws near, the gymnastics world learns that Simone Biles has opted to forego the event. Instead, the gymnastics queen has been planning vacation time with her husband, Jonathan Owens.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens’ vacation vibes

In a recent Instagram story, the Olympic marvel, Simone Biles, aka “Mrs. Owens,” treated her followers to glimpses of a tropical getaway with her NFL husband, Jonathan Owens. She shared a picture of Jonathan Owens strolling along a beach path, sandals in hand, enveloped by verdant palm trees.

Accompanying the serene scene, her caption read, “Ready to go on vacation again.” This post comes just days before the Winter Cup, where Simone Biles and her WCC teammates, Jordan Chiles, Zoe Miller, and many others, have opted to sit out of competition. As Biles relishes the idea of a much-deserved break after a whirlwind 2023, let us see what awaits gymnastics fans at the 2024 Winter Cup.

What to expect from the 2024 Winter Cup?

The 2024 Winter Cup, an important qualifier for the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, from February 21st to February 25th, 2024. This will be the 2024 season opener for many American elite gymnasts. Nearly 40 senior women, including Olympic champions Gabby Douglas and Sunisa Lee, and even Trinity Thomas, as well as other elite gymnasts from the United States, are set to participate in the showdown. The senior women’s podium training at the Winter Cup will occur from 8:00 to 10:30 am on Friday, February 23rd.

Simone Biles is a formidable force in the gymnastics world, who has captivated fans worldwide with her extraordinary talent and record-breaking accomplishments. But how many medals does this renowned athlete have to her name, given her brilliant career? Examining Biles’ incredible path reveals a mosaic of victories and significant events that have left her mark on the annals of sports history.

Simone Biles, a 26-year-old all-around, has expanded the boundaries of gymnastics with every elegant flip and flawless landing. Notwithstanding her recent exit from the upcoming Winter Cup, she still boasts an immaculate tally of wins, via brand endorsement deals and professional overtures. The 7x Olympic medalist moonlights also as a doting wife and a par exemplary athlete. One question however lingers deep, and that is how many shiny talismans of victory does she have ensconced in her cabinet?

The Medal-lion Biles for the win

Simone Biles’ performance at her maiden Olympics in Rio 2016, made her the inexorable juggernaut she is, when she won individual gold medals in the all-around vault, and floor exercises, along with a bronze on the balance beam, marked the beginning of her journey to gymnastics stardom. With this stunning achievement, Biles entered an epochal league of her own and shot to the top of the discipline. We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out her 7 cumulative Olympic medals, out of which four are gold, one is a silver and the other’s a neat bronze, acquired during her trysts in Tokyo and Rio.

However, even though she faced obstacles that tried her fortitude, Biles continued to dominate and added medals to her collection at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Biles managed to secure a bronze on the balancing beam and helped Team USA win the silver medal, demonstrating her resilience in the face of the odds. She made her debut in the 2013 Championships in Antwerp, where she won gold in the floor exercises and all-around, as well as silver in the vault and bronze in the beam. That’s not all this phenom embellishes to her credit though.

 Mere mortals can’t fathom the medals galore that Biles possesses

Outside of the Olympic stage, Simone Biles has left a lasting mark at the World Championships, where over her illustrious career, she has earned an astounding thirty medals. With 23 gold medals under her belt and the record for most World Championship wins ever, Biles is the most decorated gymnast in the history of the sport.

Throughout her career, Simone Biles has accumulated a staggering number of medals in both team and individual competitions. She won an Olympic gold medal in the team competition in Rio 2016. She won two golds in the often overlooked Pacific Rim Championships too, in Everett for the Team and All-around, respectively.

By taking home numerous titles at the US Championships and US Classic events, she has further solidified her reputation as a gymnastics powerhouse. She won gold in the vault, bars, beam, floor, and all-around exercises in multiple tournaments, including the 2016 and 2018 events. With each competition, Biles pushes the boundaries even further. Despite her absence from the upcoming Winter Cup, her indelible mark will be left at Paris 2024, a place where she can add additional medals to her ever-burgeoning repertoire.