Alyssa Roenigk, a senior writer for ESPN, has covered various assignments across six continents, often pushing the boundaries of her own limits. Follow her on Twitter at @alyroe.
In the realm of gymnastics, Simone Biles competing last on floor is equivalent to hitting a walk-off home run. Biles secured her eighth U.S. national all-around title with a flawless performance that was unmatched since her return to competitive gymnastics three weeks ago at the U.S. Classic. Biles’s coach, Laurent Landi, hailed it as her best floor routine ever. The crowd at the SAP Center erupted in a standing ovation that resonated with the enthusiasm of nearly 12,000 fans. It was as if they had been bottling up their applause for the four-time Olympic gold medalist over the past two years. Biles, after the meet, expressed her astonishment at the whole experience, stating, “Every time I come out here, I feel like I’m in a fever dream. I feel like nothing’s real. I knew I did a good floor routine, but as soon as I got off and saw the score, I was like, ‘Damn, I need to see that routine.’ Because I wasn’t sure. I’m in the moment. But it doesn’t feel real for some reason. I just, seriously, can’t believe I’m out here competing again. I’m proud of myself for that.”
While Biles held the lead throughout the two-day competition, it was her floor routine that left a lasting impression on U.S. gymnastics fans. They come to see Biles, evident in the handmade signs that read “Simone Zone” and “Biles is Back” proudly displayed after each of her routines. With every floor routine, Yurchenko double pike vault, and beam set, fans cherish their time with the 26-year-old gymnast who took a two-year break after the Tokyo Olympics. Her return had been uncertain until recently. Biles has adopted a different approach this time as she prepares for the Olympics. She chooses to keep her personal goals private and refrains from discussing her desire to make the Paris team. In San Jose, she limited her interactions with the media and didn’t allow cameras to follow her throughout the weekend, as they had in the lead-up to Tokyo. On Sunday, she only performed one vault, the Cheng, to protect her sore right ankle, which had been taped during her floor routine and the Yurchenko double pike landing on Friday. Although she was out of contention for the vault title, the decision ensured her safety and allowed her ankle to heal. Once again, Biles’s actions spoke volumes.
Throughout the past week, the country’s top gymnasts, including Biles and Landi, have emphasized the importance of performing flawlessly on all four apparatus over the two days of championships. They aim to achieve the ideal of hitting “eight for eight” or doing “normal” gymnastics – devoid of mistakes and replicating their training routines. Staying away from social media, remaining present, blocking out the pressure, and not giving the meet too much significance are their mantras. However, executing this plan is far easier said than done on the competition floor.
With each rotation and decision, Biles is revolutionizing the definition of normal in gymnastics. After Friday’s meet, a journalist asked Landi if Biles’s Yurchenko double pike, a skill attempted by no other woman in competition, should appear as effortless as she made it seem. Landi’s response was unequivocal: “No. It’s not normal. She is not normal.” By anyone else’s standards, of course. For the remaining duration of this Olympic cycle, or for however long Biles continues competing in elite gymnastics, the rest of the world will adapt to meet her standards. It was evident at the championships this weekend, where almost every gymnast displayed significant improvement compared to just three weeks prior. Shilese Jones, the reigning all-around silver medalist from world championships, displayed a remarkable recovery from her ten-month hiatus due to injuries and appears ready to medal again at the upcoming worlds in Antwerp. Jones finished second in the all-around, claimed the bars title, and achieved scores in the 14s across all apparatus. Leanne Wong, a standout at the University of Florida and an Olympic alternate in Tokyo, achieved her highest-ever finish in the all-around, claiming the bronze at championships. The national team leadership will invite up to 18 gymnasts to a selection camp in mid-September, after which the final five women who will represent the U.S. at worlds will be named. “This is going to be one of the tougher worlds teams to make,” stated national team strategic lead Alicia Sacramone, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics and competition readiness as factors alongside contest results. “Ideally, we would like a mix of veterans and up-and-comers who need international experience,” added technical lead Chellsie Memmel.
In a departure from tradition, the men’s team announced their world’s team immediately after championships, without holding a separate selection camp. Nineteen-year-old Asher Hong claimed his first national all-around title, becoming the youngest U.S. men’s champion in 34 years. Hong will lead a group of American men that includes all-around silver medalist Khoi Young, 20, and bronze medalist Fred Richard, 19, in the upcoming Antwerp worlds. If the championships were any indication, the U.S. men’s program shows promise after its prolonged absence from the international podium since 2014, when the team secured bronze at world championships. Hong believes this team has what it takes to make a successful comeback on the international stage, stating, “Brett [McClure, men’s program VP] and Jason [Woodnick, men’s high-performance director] support us in performing difficult skills without fear of failure. They understand that mistakes are part of the process, and it’s important to give our best despite the challenges. That’s the only way we’ll be able to compete with powerhouses like China, Japan, and Russia.”
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