U.S. Gymnastics Star Simone Biles Returns to Olympics for Balance Beam Final

The six-time Olympic medalist US Gymnastics star Simone Biles is set to return to competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday after pulling out of her previous events citing “mental health concerns”.

Simone Biles, 24-year-old will compete in Tuesday’s women’s balance beam final, USA Gymnastics announced. Biles will be joined by teammate Suni Lee.

We are so excited to confirm that you will see two U.S. athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow – Suni Lee AND Simone Biles!! Can’t wait to watch you both!
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 2, 2021

Biles will compete in the balance beam event a little over a week after she stepped away from the games.

Biles was forced to withdraw from the team competition last Tuesday after a single rotation. Before her withdrawal, Biles had an uncharacteristically poor vault, and she failed to stick the landing. According to NBC News, she bailed out of her Amanar and only completed a 1.5 twist on a 2.5-twisting Yurchenko, then took a big stumble backward on the landing.

Career Highlights

2020 Olympic team silver medalist
Most decorated U.S. women’s gymnast ever with 31 World/Olympic medals
2021 U.S. all-around, vault, balance beam & floor exercise champion and uneven bars bronze medalist
Seven-time U.S. all-around champion (2013-16, 2018-19, 2021)
Six-time U.S. vault champion (2014-16, 2018-19, 2021)
Five-time U.S. balance beam champion (2015-16, 2018-19, 2021)
Five-time U.S. floor exercise champion (2014, 2016, 2018-19, 2021)
2019 AP Female Athlete of the Year
Named Team USA’s Female Olympic Athlete of the Year for 2019
Winner of the USOPC’s Best of October (2019) Team USA Award
Winner of the 2019 People’s Choice Awards Game Changer award
2019 World team, all-around, vault, balance beam & floor exercise champion. Also advanced to the uneven bars final
Has won 25 World medals (19 gold, three silver, three bronze), which is the most in gymnastics history
Her 19 World gold medals is the most ever in gymnastics history
First woman to win five World all-around titles (2013-15, 18-19)
First woman to win three World balance beam titles (2014-15, 19)
First woman to win five World floor exercise titles (2013-15, 2018-19)
United States Sports Academy Athlete of the Month for August 2019
Winner of the USOPC’s Best of August (2019) Team USA Award
2019 U.S. all-around, vault, balance beam & floor exercise champion and uneven bars bronze medalist
2018 Laureus Sportswoman of the Year
2018 Houston Sports Athlete of the Year
2018 United States Sports Academy Female Athlete of the Year
Named the Most Dominant Athlete of 2018 by ESPN the Magazine
November 2018 Hickok Belt Award winner
2018 World team, all-around, vault and floor exercise champion, uneven bars silver medalist and balance beam bronze medalist
Winner of the USOC’s Best of August (2018) Team USA Award
2018 U.S. all-around, vault, uneven bars, balance beam & floor exercise champion
Named Sports Illustrated’s fittest female athlete in 2017
Winner of the 2017 ESPY Awards for Best Female Athlete and Best U.S. Female Olympian
Placed fourth on the 24th season of Dancing with the Stars in spring 2017
2016 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
2016 United States Sports Academy Female Athlete of the Year
2016 International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Female Athlete of the Year
2016 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year
Named ESPN’s Woman of the Year for 2016
2016 Olympic team, all-around, vault & floor exercise champion and balance beam bronze medalist
Her four 2016 Olympic gold medals tie the Olympic record for a female gymnast in a single Games
Her five 2016 Olympic medals tie for the most by a U.S. gymnast
Winner of the USOC’s Best of June (2016) Team USA Award
2016 U.S. all-around, vault, balance beam & floor exercise champion
2016 Pacific Rim Championships team & all-around champion
USOC’s Female Olympic Athlete of the Year for 2014-15
Winner of the USOC’s Best of November (2015) Team USA Award
2015 World team, all-around, balance beam & floor exercise champion and vault bronze medalist
2015 U.S. all-around, vault & balance beam champion and floor exercise silver medalist
2015 AT&T American Cup champion
USOC Athlete of the Month for October 2014
2014 Women’s Sports Foundation’s individual Sportswoman of the Year
First woman to win four gold medals at a single World Championships (2014) since the Soviet Union’s Ludmilla Tourischeva in 1974.
2014 World team, all-around, balance beam & floor exercise champion and vault silver medalist
2014 U.S. all-around, floor exercise & vault champion and balance beam silver medalist
2013 World all-around & floor exercise champion, vault silver medalist and balance beam bronze medalist
2013 U.S. all-around champion and vault, uneven bars, balance beam & floor exercise silver medalist
2013 AT&T American Cup silver medalist