Simone Biles, the seven-time Olympic medalist who withdrew from the bulk of the gymnastics competitions at the Tokyo Games because of a mental block, is indicating a return to elite competition in a feeder event that could eventually mean a spot in the Paris Games next year.
U.S.A. Gymnastics said Wednesday that Biles was listed as an entrant for the U.S. Classic, a showcase in August in Chicago that is the final qualifying event for the U.S. national championships.
Biles’s inclusion on the list, alongside past champions and current contenders, does not firmly declare her intention to compete in Paris, but it makes that a possibility. U.S.A. Gymnastics said registering for the U.S. Classic “does not guarantee participation.”
Biles competed in the first and last events at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but missed almost everything else because a mental block caused her to lose her sense of where her body was in the air. Her withdrawal became perhaps the biggest surprise of the Games and spurred conversation and debate about how elite athletes should balance their mental health and desire to compete.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.