The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for women’s gymnastics took place to determine the future Olympians flying to Paris later this month, with Simone Biles standing out with a dominant performance.
Over the weekend, Biles finished the trials with an all-around score of 117.225, according to NBC Universal, earning her an automatic berth on the Olympic team.
Biles has become the fourth woman to make three Olympic gymnastics teams and, at 27, the oldest Olympian gymnast in 72 years, per NBC Universal.
The women’s gymnastics team will also feature Olympic champion Suni Lee, 2020 Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles, 2020 Olympic floor exercise champion Jade Carey, and 16-year-old Hezly Rivera, who is competing in her first-ever Olympics, reported by ESPN.
Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong will also travel with the team as alternates, available in case of injury or another circumstance in which one of the members cannot compete.
Shortly after the end of the trials, Biles discussed her mental health struggles and said she was grateful to be back competing after having to drop out of the Tokyo Olympics.
“I knew I wasn’t done after the performances in Tokyo,” Biles said, per NBC Universal. “So just getting back in the gym, and then working hard and just trusting the process with Cecile and Laurent (Landi) – I knew I’d be back.”
Mental health has been a consistent topic of discussion in the gymnastics world over the last few years, as Lee also discussed potential struggles.
Lee said that injuries to Skye Blakely and Shilese Jones over the span of three days caused her to become concerned and rethink herself leading into the competition, seeking the help of a mental health professional to once again set herself up for success.
“I had to meet with my therapist yesterday and try to get my mind right, because it was just so devastating to see a couple of my friends get taken out of this huge competition,” she said, per NPR KERA.
“My heart is with them,” Lee added.
The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics is set to take place on July 26 with qualifications for the women’s gymnastics beginning shortly after on July 28, according to USA Today.