Paris 2024 Olympics: Simone Biles, Team USA shine in first podium training – “We’re all breathing a little bit better now”

Leave it to Simone Biles to top Simone Biles.

Even on training day, all eyes were on the four-time Olympic gold medallist as she and the U.S. women took to Bercy Arena for their official podium training on Thursday (25 July) at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

And while it wasn’t a perfect day at the office, Biles showed the sort of poise, comfort, strength and – above all else – gymnastics that one would hope for from the now three-time Olympic veteran, 27.

The exclamation point was a flawless Yurchenko double pike on vault that she stuck the landing on. Audible gasps were heard throughout the venue

“We’re all breathing a little bit better right now. I’m not gonna lie,” said Biles’ coach, Cecile Landi, about her star pupil’s form.

“The whole team, you know, [the vibe] is bright. It’s the Olympic Games… The rings are everywhere, you know? So we feel much better. The girls feel good. We feel good.”

That good feeling comes after Team USA’s turn on all four apparatus ahead of Sunday’s women’s team qualification day, where they’ll look to qualify for the team final – and where we’ll also find out which two American women qualify for the individual all-around final.

It was in the team final three years ago that Biles opted out of competition at Tokyo 2020, stepping away after two scary vaults and later admitting that she was suffering from “the twisties,” where a gymnast loses themselves in the air in relation to the ground.

There were no such twisties on Thursday, as Biles, reigning Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee, two-time Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, and 16-year-old newcomer Hezly Rivera all showed glittering gymnastics, with nods from around the coaching staff, Landi included.

“The whole team, they were excited to finally start,” Landi confirmed. “I think it’s been just, you know, a little bit dragging the whole… U.S. Championships, Trials, camp, all of that. We’re finally here. The arena is beautiful. The girls feel it. It’s like kind of cozy with the black seats, a big change from Tokyo. … The colour scheme is awesome. We really, really love it and feel like it’s calming. I don’t know, it’s weird, but that’s how it is.”