Multiple Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles returned to gymnastics in August. The 26-year-old gymnast will compete in the USA Classic, an American competition that will be held on August 4-5, the American Gymnastics Association reports.
The US Classic is often used as rehearsals for the US Championship, which is being held in San Jose at the end of August this year. Also in this competition, Biles returned earlier in 2018, after a two-year break after the Rio Games in 2016. Registration for the US Classic is mandatory to participate, but it does not guarantee that she will participate effectively, the federation said.
Biles was the favorite for the Games in Tokyo after winning four gold medals in Rio five years ago, but she pulled out of most events in Japan due to her mental health and safety. She said she experienced “the rolling,” a temporary and sudden loss of orientation. She won a silver medal in the team all-around event and a bronze medal on beam.
Her adventures in Japan helped highlight the mental health of athletes, a long-taboo topic. Biles is also known for her efforts to expose sexual abuse by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
Biles has won a total of 25 world championship medals, 19 of them gold, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Joe Biden last year.
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