Simone Biles returns to the mat at the U.S. Classic.

August 4, 2023
The U.S. Classic —the most important qualifying meet ahead of the USA Gymnastics Championships later this month —begins today, but TBH, the real fun comes tomorrow, when the GOAT, Simone Biles, makes her highly-anticipated return to elite competition after a two-year absence.
Sports NewsGymnastics
Simone Biles returns to the mat at the U.S. Classic.
SOURCE: KATHARINE LOTZE/GETTY IMAGES

The GIST: The U.S. Classic —the most important qualifying meet ahead of the USA Gymnastics Championships later this month —begins today, but TBH, the real fun comes tomorrow, when the GOAT, Simone Biles, makes her highly-anticipated return to elite competition after a two-year absence.

  • Adding to the excitement, the 2024 Paris Olympics are creepin’ up, and while it’s way too early to know who will rock the stars and stripes for Team USA, this weekend’s meet will provide crucial insight one year out from the sport’s biggest stage.

Simone Biles: The seven-time Olympic medalist hasn’t competed since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she dropped out of the team and most individual competitions, before battling back from "the twisties" to earn an individual bronze on beam.

  • Upon returning to the States, Biles took a break from competition, but if the latest national team training camp is any indication, she’s back back, baby.
  • Biles finished first in three out of four events in July, even hitting her signature Yurchenko double pike on the vault. She’ll compete in the second senior women’s session, which begins tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC. Appointment viewing.

Other gymnasts to watch: Reigning Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee will make a return of her own tomorrow, after her sophomore season at Auburn was cut short due to a kidney issue.

  • 2020 Olympic floor gold medalist Jade Carey will also hit the mat, along with her Tokyo Games teammate, Jordan Chiles. Stick it.