On her first day of competition at the 2024 Olympic Games, Simone Biles appeared to injure her leg during a warm-up routine, causing brief concern. However, the Simone Biles 2024 Olympic injury did not prevent her from completing her routines and finishing in first place. Biles’s coach, Cecile Landi, downplayed the significance of the injury, stating it was a minor issue in her calf.
Despite the Simone Biles 2024 Olympic injury, Biles posted high scores, including a competition-high 15.8 on the vault. Her performance, along with strong showings from teammates Jordan Chiles and Sunisa Lee, secured the U.S. women’s gymnastics team a spot in the team all-around final on Tuesday. The U.S. is a favorite to win gold in this event, as well as in the individual all-around final on Thursday.
Biles initially injured her leg during a warm-up for the floor exercise, her second apparatus of the night. After landing a pass, she walked gingerly off the mat, consulted with her coaches, and briefly left the floor. Upon her return, she had her ankle and lower calf wrapped with thick athletic tape.
Determined to continue, Biles completed her remaining routines without hesitation. “Never in her mind” was there a question of whether she would continue, according to Landi.
Expectations for Biles and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team are exceptionally high at the Paris Olympic Games. Biles, 27, has been performing at the peak of her career since returning to competition last year after a two-year hiatus. She is favored to win at least three individual gold medals, in addition to a team all-around gold for the U.S.
Despite the Simone Biles 2024 Olympic injury, Biles’s remarkable performance in the qualifiers drew significant attention from the crowd, which included celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Tom Cruise, and Anna Wintour. The U.S. women’s team finished their round of qualifications with the top spot in the team rankings. With Chiles and Lee finishing about 3.5 points behind Biles.
Chellsie Memmel, the women’s team technical lead, emphasized the importance of Biles’s physical well-being, acknowledging her extraordinary effort despite the injury. The goal for the U.S. team is clear: to return home with a gold medal.
