What to Know about Simone Biles at the Paris Olympics: Absent from Opening Ceremony, Leg Issue, Public Criticism & More
ArchiveFirst published July 29, 2024. It may not reflect later developments.
During the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone Biles and some U.S. gymnasts were absent. Simone’s mom, Nellie Biles, explained, “The first competition is Sunday, which is women’s qualifier, and, of course, she needs to rest up before that competition.”
On July 28, during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Qualification, Simone faced a leg issue. She was seen with medical tape around her left leg after tweaking her calf during warmups. Despite this, she competed, showing her determination, which contrasted her withdrawal from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to protect her mental health.
Simone faced criticism online. Some accused her of staging the injury to gain attention. One user commented, “Smart. This time, if she wants to quit, she can blame injury instead of nerves.” Another remarked, “Pretends to get hurt and then wins in order to get all the attention and steal the spotlight.”
Despite the criticism and injury, Simone made history by performing the “hardest vault in the world,” the Yurchenko double pike. An observer praised her, saying, “Me in my living room at 3AM watching Simone Biles smash her floor routine on a taped-up leg. #OlympicGames.” Critics also commented on her hair, but their remarks didn’t overshadow her incredible performance and perseverance.
