Biles and Chiles Rock Night One at US Olympic Trials

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Simone Biles

Simone Biles, America’s golden girl and the reigning Olympic Champion began her second Olympic Team quest this evening in St. Louis, Missouri at the USA Gymnastics Trials. 

Starting with bars, deemed her weakest event, Biles swung through with ease and ended the routine with a stuck landing. Since Rio De Janeiro, Biles has made several upgrades, which may lead to her earning a spot in the bar finals at this summer Olympics in Tokyo where she hopes to earn a medal for team USA. 

On her next event, the balance beam, Biles dismounted with a double twisting double back, a move that’s since been named after her since worlds. Biles performs the hardest beam dismount in the sport. 

Biles’ floor routine was also electrifying. She captured the hearts of the largest crowd seen in the sport since the beginning of the global pandemic. She performed two moves named after her: the Biles and the Biles. The first is a triple-twisting double back, and the second a double layout with a half twist. 

Biles explained how happy she was to stay within the boundaries. The gymnast is known for her power. She is the first and only woman competing a triple-twisting double back in the world on the floor exercise and will most likely go into the summer Olympics competing against herself. No other woman gymnast competing in Tokyo will have the same level of difficulty she’ll bring to this Olympics. 

“I was super excited going into this one,” Biles said. “I know exactly what to expect,” adding, “it’s been five years and I’m grateful.”

The “goat”, Biles’ nickname, ended the night with another stunning vault. Even without her now famous yurchenko double pike, Biles still goes into Day 2 of the Olympic Trials in the number one spot, with Suni Lee in second place, and her team Jordan Chiles in third. 

Jordan Chiles

Another amazing standout, Jordan Chiles, began her Olympic pursuit on the uneven bars. Her near-perfect routine and stuck landing earned her a 14.300.

Beam was Chiles’ second event. With light jitters, Chiles chose to take out an element.

Although she had a few balance checks, it didn’t stop her from ending the event strongly. 

Chiles ended her routine with one of the most difficult dismounts in the world. She stuck the landing. 

Chiles and Biles, both teammates at the World Champion Centre gymnastics academy in Spring, Texas, are now primed to make it to Tokyo to pursue Olympic gold.