Simone Biles: How to watch the gymnast go for more history at the US Gymnastics Championships

CNN
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[Breaking news update, published at 11:00 p.m. ET]

Simone Biles finished the opening day of competition at the US Gymnastics Championships in first place with a score of 59.3, 2.75 points ahead of the field.

Shilese Jones was in second place while Skye Blakely was in third.

[Original story, published at 10:28 a.m. ET]

Simone Biles is familiar with making history. At 26 years old, he is already one of the greats of the sport.

Biles has a chance to add to her ever-expanding list of honors at the US Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, California, over the next three days.

The 26-year-old will become the only gymnast – male or female – to win eight US all-around titles. His seven titles are tied with Alfred Jochim.

Biles returned to action earlier this month after a nearly two-year hiatus, winning in triumphant fashion at the Core Hydration Classic.

Bills will take to the floor on Friday in the balance beam and floor exercise before taking on the vault and uneven bars on Sunday.

Day one of the senior women’s competition begins at 5 pm PST (8 pm ET/1 am UK time) on Friday with day two of the event starting at 3.30 pm PST (6.30 pm ET/11.30 pm UK time) on Sunday.

Coverage of the US Gymnastics Championships will air locally on NBC and Peacock while international viewers can watch the USA Gymnastics event YouTube channel.

Biles’ return to competitive gymnastics at the Core Hydration Classic will be the seven-time Olympic medalist’s first outing since withdrawing from several events at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

She withdrew from the women’s team finals after suffering from so-called “twisties” – a mental block that causes gymnasts to lose their position in the air.

Biles chose not to compete in the four individual finals at the Tokyo Games, but she returned to compete on the balance beam, winning bronze after using a modified dismount in her routine.

Asked why she decided to come back, Biles answered: “I always know everything that happens in Tokyo. So this time, I’m doing it for me. I’m working hard on myself, and I believe in myself which is more, to just come back here and start again with the first steps.

The Core Hydration Classic is the last chance for athletes to qualify for the national championships. The world gymnastics championships are then scheduled to take place between September 30 and October 8 in Antwerp, Belgium.

Biles is the most decorated gymnast in US history, winning 32 medals across the Olympics and world championships.

Among her medal haul are four golds at the Olympic Games and 19 golds at the world championships – the most of any gymnast in history.

Biles’ experiences have seen her become a well-known advocate for mental health.

Even months after the Olympics, she said she was “still scared to do gymnastics,” but recently told the Instagram that he “distorted again. Don’t worry. Everything is fine.”