Gymnastics

Fresh off winning three gold medals at the 2023 United States Gymnastics Championships, Simone Biles is going to compete for the World Championships.

Biles was named to the U.S. squad for 2023 World Championships in Belgium. This will mark her sixth career appearance at the event, the most ever for a United States athlete.

The 26-year-old earned her spot on Team USA at the Women's World Championships Selection Event on Wednesday. Her score of 55.700 in the all-around beat out Shilese Jones (55.300) and Skye Blakely (55.000) for the top position.

Simone Biles’ first world championships was in Antwerp in 2013.

10 years later, she will return to Antwerp for a sixth world championships, something that no other U.S. woman has ever done. #Antwerp2023 pic.twitter.com/WrFyTpXmLW

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) September 20, 2023

"Yesterday was a rough day, but it's better now [than to] get it out over there [at worlds]," Biles said after falling on the uneven bars and stepping out of bounds during her floor exercise on Tuesday. "Today's two-event was obviously a lot better getting the nerves out. I feel like everybody was nervous yesterday, not just me and I don't know why."

Biles returned to competition in August at the 2023 U.S. Classic. It was her first event since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she withdrew from the individual all-around, vault, uneven bars and floor finals to focus on her mental health. She did compete in the balance beam, finishing third to capture the bronze medal.

After finishing first in three of her four events at the United States Classic, Biles competed in four events at Nationals from Aug. 24 to 27. She won the individual all-around, balance beam, floor exercise and won bronze on the uneven bars.

Biles has won 25 medals in her career at the World Championships, including 19 golds.

Joining Biles on the U.S. team at this year's event will be Jones, Blakeley, Leanne Wong and Joscelyn Roberson. The 2023 World Championships will take place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 in Antwerp, Belgium.

Simone Biles is eyeing a return to the Olympics after pulling out of the Tokyo Games in 2021 with the "twisties," a mental block that can lead to a gymnast feeling lost while they are in the air.

During a Thursday appearance on the TODAY show, Hoda Kotb asked Biles what she should do if she wanted to place a $5 bet on the American's participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Where would I put my $5? The 'yay' or the 'nay?" Kotb said.

Biles responded: "Right now, I would say that's the path I would love to go, so I wouldn't mind if you put it in the 'yay' section."

EXCLUSIVE: Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) joins TODAY’s @hodakotb to talk about returning to competition, setting her sights on the 2024 Olympics in Paris, her long-distance married life with Jonathan Owens and more! @NBCsports #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/8v2tcGnESK

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 7, 2023

Biles returned to competition for the first time since pulling out of the Tokyo Games in 2021 at the U.S. Championship in August, where she won her record eighth United States championship.

The 26-year-old scored a 14.0 on the uneven bars, 14.8 on the balance beam, 14.9 in the floor exercise and a 15.4 in the vault. She finished first in the all-around, vault, floor and balance beam and third on uneven bars.

While speaking with Kotb on Thursday, Biles detailed how she has evolved since withdrawing from Tokyo with the "twisties":

A lot of trust in my coach, my teammates, myself, most importantly, coming in that gym and making sure I'm doing those numbers, repetitions, feeling confident in them.

There were times when I would come in the gym and I'd be like, 'You know what? I don't think this is going to work.' And then I was like, 'No, I'm going to give it another day.' ... So I think just showing up and putting that work and that effort in really came to play, so as long as I showed up for another day and kept putting that work in, then it kind of went down and dwindled.

Biles, who has won 19 gold medals at the world championships, which is more than any other men's or women's gymnast in history, also said that she has placed more of a focus on her mental and physical wellbeing leading up to the 2024 Paris Games.

Biles has won four gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals at the Olympics. She won gold in the team, all-around, vault and floor exercise events at the 2016 Rio de Janiero Olympics.

Biles also won bronze on balance beam at the 2016 and 2020 Games and silver in the team event in Tokyo.

She'll be aiming for more gold at the Paris Games next summer.

Simone Biles has done it again.

Arguably the greatest gymnast of all time added to her already legendary resume by clinching the all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships on Sunday for the eighth time in her career, setting a new record for most all-time.

More history for the 🐐!

Simone Biles becomes the first gymnast - man or woman - to win 8 All-Around Titles at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships! pic.twitter.com/a5drI6qRrh

— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 28, 2023

Biles entered this weekend's competition at the SAP Center in San Jose tied with Alfred Jochim for most all-around titles at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, though Jochim achieved the feat over a century ago.

The 26-year-old capped her victory on Sunday with a dazzling floor routine that earned a score of 15.4 and drew a standing ovation from the crowd. Biles' teammate and friend Jordan Chiles even gestured for the crowd to continue cheering before beginning her floor routine.

The floor routine that secured @Simone_Biles' 8th national all-around title, a feat that no American gymnast in history has done before. #XfinityChamps https://t.co/yRhHxSEcY1

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 28, 2023

When you have to hype up bestie before you go on Floor 👏@ChilesJordan | @Simone_Biles pic.twitter.com/GSQFaRuLdO

— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 28, 2023

Biles finished with an all-around score of 118.45. Her floor routine score was more than a half-point than she earned on Friday night, and she also improved on her beam score by 0.40 points.

Simone Biles is locked in. 🔐

She scores a 14.850 for this routine on the balance beam.

📺 @nbc & @peacock | #XfinityChamps pic.twitter.com/bZ26Tv9PqB

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 28, 2023

Earlier this month, Biles returned to competition for the first time since she took home bronze on the balance beam in the Tokyo Olympics. While her seventh medal tied the record for most Olympic medals by an American gymnast, it came after she withdrew from multiple finals in order to focus on her mental health.

"It felt really good, especially after everything that's happened over the past year," Biles said after her victory on Sunday. "Everyone that was cheering, made posters and all of that, it just made my heart melt that they still believe in me. I always kind of knew, as soon as everything that happened in Tokyo [that I'd be back]."

It appears that Biles is back in her usual form as she continues down the road toward the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Shilese Jones finished second in the all-around with 114.55 points, followed by Leanne Crow in third place with 111.10.

Simone Biles returned to competitive gymnastics with a bang, winning the U.S. Classic on Saturday.

It was the first time she competed since coming down with the twisties at the Tokyo Games, and Biles said after the fact it was an emotional experience:

happy to be back out on the floor! this journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions. thank you for believing in me. 🫶🏾 pic.twitter.com/wENM2wYFqd

— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) August 6, 2023

Biles, 26, was once the biggest star in the sport, winning five medals—including four golds—at the 2016 Rio Games. But she took home just a silver in the team competition and a bronze in the balance beam in Tokyo after withdrawing from a number of events due to issues spotting her landings on twisting jumps.

But after her performance Saturday, the question surrounding her career is an obvious one—will she make at attempt to compete at the 2024 Paris Games?

"I'm in a really good spot and who knows?" she told reporters. "I'm not going to think so far ahead."

The GOAT still sits at the top of the mountain.

It was a triumphant return for superstar gymnast Simone Biles on Saturday night as she took home the gold at the U.S. Classic at the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

It was her first competitive meet since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and she reasserted her dominance against a loaded field that included Olympic teammates Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Suni Lee.

"I always kind of knew [I would return], as soon as everything that happened in Tokyo," Biles told CNBC after the meet. "This time I'm doing it for me. I worked a lot on myself. I believe in myself a little bit more. It's just coming back out here and starting those first steps again."

What a moment for Simone Biles! 💜

The smile says it all. pic.twitter.com/IpyuXjnyOx

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2023

Biles blew the rest of the competition out of the water. She finished with a score of 59.10 for the meet. The next closest score was a 54.10, put up by 19-year-old Leanne Wong.

It had been a long time coming for the seven-time Olympic medalist, who last competed 732 days ago. At the time, she withdrew from the all-around finals for mental health reasons.

She would later say she had a case of the "twisties," a sudden inability to understand her body position while she's airborne.

Biles still wound up winning bronze on the balance beam after returning for only that event.

Following the Olympics, she was mum on whether she planned on returning to gymnastics. However, that all changed earlier this year when she informed her coach, Cecile Landi, that she was interested in getting back in the game.

And after Biles married Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens in the spring, the training really intensified in the lead-up to the Classic.

"She really wants it for herself," Landi said a day before the event. "She's a married woman. She's matured. She knows what she wants."

Biles showed off that desire Saturday with her unmatched combination of power, skill and grace all night. An incredible performance was highlighted by a Yurchenko double-pike on vault for her final event of the competition.

Her celebration put a cherry on top of a mesmerizing display.

SIMONE BILES WITH THE BEST CELEBRATION!

📺: @CNBC and @Peacock pic.twitter.com/xumNDPrWpt

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2023

She also was incredibly strong during her run at the floor routine, balance beam and uneven bars.

Now, her eyes will be locked on the national trials and an opportunity to go to the Olympics in Paris in 2024.

Simone Biles is back on the floor.

For the first time since the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021, Biles returned to gymnastics at the Core Hydration Classic in Chicago on Friday morning, according to ESPN's Alyssa Roenigk.

"She can do everything that she was doing before," Biles' coach Cecile Landi said Friday. "We just adjusted the routines to use the new code of points and make it as mentally and physically comfortable as she can handle."

How many angles do you want to see of Simone’s YDP?

Yes.@Simone_Biles | @TeamUSA | #CoreClassic pic.twitter.com/XbtJs2FUMe

— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 4, 2023

Seeing Simone Biles back on the floor just feels right! 🤩#CoreClassic | Sat. 8ET | @cnbc and @peacock pic.twitter.com/0IWpZAH0G0

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2023

Biles completed three attempts at the Yurchenko double pike on Friday. She is the only woman to land the double-flipping move in competition, and while she intended to attempt it at the Tokyo Olympics, she eventually withdrew from the competition due to the "twisties."

The "twisties" are "a dangerous mental block that causes a gymnast to lose spatial awareness while performing twisting elements," according to Roenigk.

The Core Hydration Classic is the final qualifier for the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, which will be held in San Jose, California, later this month.

LSU gymnast and social media influencer Olivia Dunne may have the fame and fortune to last a lifetime, but that spotlight also comes with its struggles.

During a recent interview with Elle's Kayla Webley Adler, Dunne discussed those difficulties, including the fact that she cannot attend in-person classes on the LSU campus due to safety concerns.

"There were some scares in the past, and I just want to be as careful as possible," Dunne, who takes classes online, said. "I don't want people to know my daily schedule and where I am."

One of those incidents occurred at LSU's opening meet of the 2023 season at the University of Utah where some gymnasts were allegedly harassed by a group of men who "demanded to see" Dunne. The group of between 100 to 200 men also "chanted wildly during the competition, disrupting the performance of other gymnasts," according to Adler.

The LSU athletic department ended up hiring private security to escort the team to meets for the remainder of the season, and no other incidents occurred, Adler added. The Tigers went on to reach the NCAA championships, where they finished fourth.

Dunne has emerged as one of the most famed college athletes in the United States, boasting millions of followers across all of her social media platforms. She is also the top earner among female athletes in college sports with an NIL valuation of $3.4 million.

UPDATED Women's NIL 100📈💰https://t.co/9N92m2Ek4e pic.twitter.com/6SJVkuIpCC

— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) May 2, 2023

The 20-year-old has brand deals with American Eagle, PlantFuel, Body Armor, Grubhub, Linktree, Forever 21, Vuori and Leaf Trading Cards, among others.

Dunne is now entering her senior year, with the Tigers looking to claim a national title.

"I know it's coming to an end, so I'm trying to take in every single last memory I can, but I'm also excited to see what the future holds," Dunne said.

Former Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas seems to be making a return to gymnastics.

Having not competed since the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Douglas seemed to announce Thursday that she is targeting a 2024 return in an Instagram post, her first since taking a break from social media last August.

"Hey guys, long time no post. As you all know i stepped back from the socials and in that time i did a lot of journaling, reflecting, soul searching and found myself back where it all began," Douglas wrote. "It's so easy to suppress and run away from facing darkness and fears for many years, i've had an ache in my heart, but i didn't want to keep carrying anger, pain, sadness, or regret and through my tears and hurt, i've found peace.

"I wanted to find the joy again for the sport that i absolutely love doing. I know i have a huge task ahead of me and i am beyond grateful and excited to get back out on the floor and even more grateful for all of your support and love. it truly means so much there's so much to be said but for now….let's do this #2024."

While she didn't officially state that she wanted to return to the Olympic stage, the "#2024" certainly seems to indicate that the 27-year-old would like to compete in Paris next summer and continue her career.

Her post followed the recent announcements that fellow champions Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee are returning to training as well and are both expected to compete in the upcoming U.S. Classic on Aug. 5.

It is still unclear whether Douglas will compete at the Classic considering that she wasn't on the initial list of competitors.

News of Douglas' return is great for the entire sport as she's been one of America's greatest athletes during her illustrious career, particularly since she broke out at the 2012 Olympics in London where she became the first Black woman to win the Olympic all-around title as a part of the "Fierce Five".

She then ran it back with the team in 2016, helping the USA to a second-consecutive team gold medal.

Now, she'll be looking to complete the hat trick in Paris and cap off a brilliant run.

Rumors of Douglas' return to training date back to last year and former Team USA coordinator Valeri Liukin confirmed back in February that Douglas was training at his gym in Dallas, according to USA Today's Nancy Armour.

Convicted sex offender Larry Nassar was stabbed at federal prison in Florida after "making a lewd comment" while he and another inmate were watching a Wimbledon match, according to Michael R. Sisak and Michael Balsamo of the Associated Press.

Shane McMillan told employees of the prison he stabbed Nassar after the former sports doctor "made a comment about wanting to see girls playing in the Wimbledon women's match," according to an AP source.

Sisak and Balsamo reported that McMillan stabbed Nassar in the neck, chest and back. Correctional officers entered the cell and performed "life-saving measures" on him before he was transported to a nearby hospital. He remains in stable condition with a collapsed lung.

In December 2017, Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in prison after he had pleaded guilty to child pornography charges. A Michigan state judge also sentenced him to 40 to 175 years after he pleaded guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Nassar, who worked as a doctor for USA Gymnastics and at Michigan State University, sexually abused female athletes over multiple decades.

Throughout his sentencing hearing, 156 women issued victim impact statements, and his number of victims far exceeds that.

Michigan State reached a $500 million settlement in 2018 with a group of 332 women who had filed a civil lawsuit. Shortly after that matter was resolved, 169 new women came forward with similar claims.

Convicted sex offender Larry Nassar was stabbed multiple times during an altercation at United States Penitentiary Coleman in Florida, according to Michael Balsamo and Michael R. Sisak of the Associated Press.

Nassar is in stable condition after getting stabbed in the back and chest, per the AP.

The Bureau of Prisons confirmed a prisoner was transported to a nearby hospital because of the incident but declined to identify anyone involved.

"No staff or other inmates were injured and at no time was the public in danger," the bureau said, per NBC News' Erik Ortiz. "An internal investigation is ongoing."

Nassar is a former sports medicine doctor who worked at Michigan State and USA Gymnastics. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Michigan state court and pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges.

A Michigan judge sentenced him to 40 to 125 years in prison after he had already been sentenced to 60 years by a federal judge.

During his sentencing hearing, 156 women came forward with victim impact statements to detail the abuse they suffered at Nassar's hands. Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and McKayla Maroney were among the women who had come forward.

The fallout from Nassar's arrest and guilty pleas brought significant scrutiny upon USA Gymnastics and the FBI, as both failed to properly act when each was first alerted to allegations against him.

USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee reached a $380 million settlement with the survivors of Nassar's assaults in 2021.

A group of women filed suit against the FBI in June 2022 after the Department of Justice published a 2021 report detailing the bureau's investigative lapses that allowed Nassar's abuse to continue for a period of time.