Simone Biles is poised for a strong performance as she leads the United States women's gymnastics team into the final at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday. Biles, who struggled with the "twisties" during the Tokyo Games and withdrew from the team final, is determined to help her team secure gold this time around. The U.S. had to settle for silver behind Russia in Tokyo after winning gold in 2012 and 2016.
Biles, along with fellow Tokyo team members Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey, and Jordan Chiles, as well as 16-year-old Hezly Rivera, is focused on redemption. Despite facing criticism for prioritizing her mental health and safety in Tokyo, Biles has emphasized that her motivation in Paris is driven by personal goals and team camaraderie, rather than external expectations.
In the team qualifying rounds, the U.S. secured the highest score with 172.296 points, significantly surpassing European champions Italy, who scored 166.861. China finished third with 166.628 points, buoyed by Zhou Yaqin's top performance on the balance beam. Coach Cecile Landi was pleased with the team's performance, despite a minor injury to Biles' calf.
For the final, the qualifying scores are reset, and the competition format requires three gymnasts from each team to compete on each apparatus, with all scores contributing to the final total. The U.S. team, including Biles, Chiles, Carey, and Lee, will start fresh, with the team event also featuring Brazil, Japan, Canada, Great Britain, and Romania.
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