Simone Biles, at a training session Tuesday in Le Bourget, France, has talked with her coaches about the possibility of not competing in all four events of team event.Simone Biles, at a training session Tuesday in Le Bourget, France, has talked with her coaches about the possibility of not competing in all four events of team event.PARIS — Simone Biles might not compete on all four events for U.S. women’s gymnastics in the team final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, U.S. technical lead Chellsie Memmel said Tuesday. At the Tokyo Olympics, Biles pulled out of the team final after the first rotation when she experienced “the twisties” during her Amanar vault. The U.S. finished the competition without her and won the silver medal. Going into Paris, Team USA leaders are trying not to put too much pressure on Biles’ shoulders. Memmel said that during pre-Olympic training camp in Katy, Biles brought up her concerns about the team final to national team head coach Cecile Landi, who is also one of Biles’ personal coaches. Memmel and Landi then spoke about balancing what is best for Biles with what is best for the rest of the team. “I’ve had a conversation with Cecile already talking about team finals and what the expectation on Simone is, and if she doesn’t feel like it’s going to be in her best interest to do all four events that day, is that an option for her? And I said absolutely,” Memmel said. “If that’s what she needs to continue to be at her best for her team and for herself, then that’s what we’re going to do because there are still four other members on our team. …I think just for her, knowing that that is a possibility, I think that helps.”Memmel said they had a similar conversation prior to the 2023 World Championships in Belgium, where Biles had the option to not compete all four events in the team final. Biles ultimately decided to do every event, and helped the U.S. win team gold two days before she captured her record sixth individual all-around world title. In Paris, Memmel said she and Landi will continue to monitor Biles and her teammates in training and throughout qualifying. Biles opens Olympic competition with team qualifying on Sunday, July 28, and the women’s team final is scheduled for Tuesday, July 30. Knowing that she can contribute on all four events, but also doesn’t want to take away from the team, I think that’s where it’s like that double-edged sword for Simone, where she wants to be able to help but also wants to be able to be at her best,” Memmel said. “And we will continue to have coaches meetings and a lot of us want to see how podium training goes before — we’re not going to make any final lineup decisions or change lineups or anything that we have from the tentative lineup that we have set until after podium.”The other four members of the U.S. team are Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Hezly Rivera. The 16-year-old Rivera is making her Olympic debut, while everyone else competed in Tokyo. Biles, who has seven Olympic medals already and is competing in her third Games, is the most experienced of the Americans. Memmel said Biles seems to be in a good frame of mind since Team USA arrived in France on July 18 and moved into the athlete village on Monday. Simone has been doing great,” Memmel said. “She’s been solid in training since Katy, Texas. She seems to be in a really good place and she’s been a great leader for this team. And I know together as a team, they’re all really looking forward to the competition and it is kind of their redemption tour (for) four of the five from the previous Olympic Games, so they’re excited. They’re all coming together for it and Simone has has been a big part of that.”
