One down, one to go.
The United States Gymnastics Championships wrapped up over the weekend, leaving just one meet —the Olympic Trials in late June — to determine which five gymnasts will represent the United States' women's team at the Paris Olympics.
Simone Biles, 27, stormed to her ninth national title at the U. S. Championships, racking up an all-around score of 119.750. She put up the highest score in each individual event, including the uneven bars; she tends to be weaker on that apparatus, but has improved since the last Olympics in Tokyo.
Simone Biles wrapped up her historic 9th U.S. all-around title with this uneven bars routine. ⭐️#XfinityChamps pic.twitter.com/GaeWQ4qOME
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 3, 2024
"I couldn't be more proud of how I'm doing this time in the year," Biles said, per CNN.com.
Biles is all but locked in for the 2024 Olympic team, but there's a crowded field of talented gymnasts behind her. Because two of Team USA's four remaining spots are expected to go to apparatus specialists, just two more all-around gymnasts are expected to join Biles on the squad.
Here are the top contenders:
Jones, who's battling a shoulder injury, pulled out of the championships to focus on Olympic qualifying instead.
While she may not be at full fitness, Jones is still a strong contender for the U. S. Olympic team. She's a steady, experienced all-around gymnast who spikes on the uneven bars, and that matters for Team USA because it's the group's weakest event by far.
Jones put up a whopping 15.250 on the bars at this year's Core Hydration Classic and won the event outright, beating everyone else in the U. S. field.
Shilese Jones. Uneven Bars. 15.250. .
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) May 19, 2024
Catch #CoreClassic on CNBC & Peacock! pic.twitter.com/DrauNc693n
Blakely competed at the U.S. Championships, clinching her spot in the Olympic Trials by finishing second. It's a big step forward for Blakely, who will see Paris as her shot at redemption. She crashed hard at the last Olympic Trials and missed out on making the Tokyo team.
Blakely has been consistently strong on the balance beam in recent seasons and could elevate Team USA's performance on that event. She's also a strong vaulter and is expected to perform a difficult trick known as a "Cheng" in the trials — it requires a full layout off the vault with a 570-degree rotation.
SKYE. BLAKELY.
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 1, 2024
She closes out her first night with a 15.000 on vault. #XfinityChamps | @peacock pic.twitter.com/bgIxW4PyDW
Regular Olympics viewers may remember Carey as the unexpected hero of Team USA's Tokyo outfit.
After Biles pulled out of team and individual events, Carey stepped up to perform in her place on floor and vault, and shocked everyone, including herself, with her poise and competence. She took home a gold medal for her individual performance on floor.
Absolutely sensational! ✨
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 2, 2021
Jade Carey gets it done at the Floor Final and takes home the ! What a moment for Jade, competing alongside her dad and coach, Brian! Stand up, Arizona! #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/VfflLarJZG
Carey has spent the past few years competing in NCAA gymnastics against fellow Team USA alums Jordan Chiles and Suni Lee. She has excelled in that environment and rediscovered her love for the sport.
"Elite training, you're pretty much on your own," she said, per The Athletic. "Here [in NCAA competition] it's the team. I'm not used to having 20 girls in the gym with me, working toward the same thing. It's like having a bunch of sisters to go through things with. Everything feels like a celebration."
The U. S. Olympic Trials begin on June 27 in Minneapolis. The Paris Olympics begin on July 26.
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