Simone Biles Dominates At 2024 Paris Olympics But Raises Concerns With Calf Injury
Simone Biles kicked off her Paris 2024 journey with a spectacular return to Olympic competition, yet her performance stirred concerns for her remaining events due to a visible struggle with a lower leg injury throughout the qualifying round.
Although grappling with calf pain, which coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi revealed started a few weeks prior, Biles showcased why she remains the world's top gymnast.
She began strongly on the balance beam but struggled with the injury during her floor routine. Despite this, her routine — which featured a triple-twisting double somersault, captivated the audience at the Bercy Arena.
Throughout the session, Biles, 27, made efforts to minimize strain on her left leg. After her floor routine, she wrapped her lower leg tightly and managed to perform on the vault, though she was seen crawling back down the runway and later hopping during warm-ups.
By the time she reached the uneven bars, she was reportedly feeling somewhat better. However, the event, which involves minimal leg impact until the final dismount, saw her sticking the landing while lifting her left foot in a sign of continued discomfort.
The Columbus, Ohio, native's high scores reaffirmed her status as a leading gold medal contender, with the U.S. women's team securing the top spot for the team final. Biles also qualified first for the individual all-around, floor, and vault finals, and second for the beam final.
Canqueteau-Landi mentioned that there were no immediate concerns about Biles' participation in the team final on Tuesday.
