DPA
Paris
American gymnastics star Simone Biles appeared to suffer a leg injury during the vault at the Paris Olympic gymnastics qualification on Sunday, but is set to ease through to the finals after a remarkable performance.
With three subdivisions of gymnasts still to come in qualifying, the US lead the way in the team standings and have guaranteed final qualification, while Biles had the top all-around score so far of 59.566 ahead of fellow Americans Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles.
Biles was given a huge welcome by fans in Paris as she began her Olympics with a strong performance on the beam and floor. But she was then seen limping while practising the vault.
“She felt a little something in her calf. That’s all,” US coach Cecile Landi told reporters, adding that Biles had never considered leaving the competition.
“Never in her mind.” The injury happened weeks ago but had lessened during training, only to flare up in competition.
“It felt better at the end (of competition),” Landi added. “On the bars, it started to feel better.”
The four-time gold medallist struggled in Tokyo three years ago citing mental health struggles but managed silver in the team event and bronze on the beam. She had complained of the twisties, where gymnasts lose balance in the air.
When the 27-year-old’s name was initially called out in Paris, the noise inside the packed 15,000 Bercy Arena increased massively and she smiled broadly. Even US rapper Snoop Dog cheered her from the front row among a number of other US celebrities.
Biles started on the beam with an impressive triple spin and two perfect somersaults to help score a strong 14.733 points.
Her floor routine meanwhile received the highest score yet of the Games of 14.600, before her problems in the vault.
After wincing through three practice runs, she decided to go ahead with the competition jumps, with heavy strapping on her ankle but not her calf. She achieved superb height on the first vault even if the landing was not perfect.
Her second vault was more conservative but the double twist was magnificent, even if she was clearly in pain when landing.
Despite all of it, she took the top vault score so far in qualifying of 15.300.
She seemed more comfortable by the time of the uneven bars, her least favourite event, and dismounted effortlessly for a creditable score.
Biles did though limp when leaving the arena.
The women’s team final is on Tuesday with the all-around final on Thursday. The individual apparatus finals are from Saturday. Biles may have time to heal fully before Tuesday with the men’s team final on Monday.
Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour, who lives and trains in France, was also cheered loudly by the crowd and put in a flawless show on the uneven bars to score a huge 15.600 and top qualification.
The United States won gold in the women’s team event in 2012 and 2016 but had to settle for silver in Tokyo after Biles withdrew from the final and are desperature for renewed success.
US coach Landi said of the team: “It was good. It wasn’t perfect, but they had a good day. It was exciting to see the crowd and the audience being so excited and cheerful for everyone. That really helped.”
On Biles, she added: “59.566 (points in the all-around) - I would say that’s not too shabby. It’s pretty good. I’m proud of her. There are a couple of things she can add here and there, I’m very excited for her.
“I think she feels good (mentally). She continues to talk to her therapist, and we are, of course, listening to her when she needs it.”
