Simone Biles injury: Star gymnast to continue competing despite leg issues

Simone Biles, nan astir dressed up gymnast successful history, will proceed competing successful nan Paris Olympics pinch an wounded aft tweaking her limb while warming up for nan Olympic gymnastics qualifiers connected Sunday.

The wounded caused her to visibly limp connected her near limb passim nan time while stepping astir Paris’ Bercy Arena. Everywhere expect nan title floor, that is.

There, Biles pushed done nan symptom and dominated her competitors, posting an all-around people of 59.566, good supra nan next-closest competitor successful 2nd place. She did 4 routines connected nan injured leg, a level performance, 2 vaults and an uneven bars routine.

Concerns that nan wounded mightiness origin Biles to beryllium retired immoderate of nan events successful nan gymnastics squad finals connected Tuesday were quickly quelled. On Monday, Biles was listed successful nan lineups for each 4 events.

How did nan wounded happen?

Biles’ wounded occurred aft she had already vanished competing connected nan equilibrium beam Sunday and was warming up for her level routine. She tweaked her little near limb while practicing a double layout half out, an acrobatic accomplishment that was named nan “Biles I” aft her.

Biles ended up leaving nan level pinch Team USA expert Marcia Faustin. The segment was eerily akin to what played retired during nan Tokyo Olympics, erstwhile Biles dropped retired of nan gymnastic squad competition to protect her information — sparking an world speech astir athletes’ intelligence health.

At nan Tokyo Games, Biles returned to nan arena wearing a sweatsuit, having bowed retired of nan competition. In Paris, it was a different story. This clip around, she re-emerged still wearing her afloat Olympics kit, but pinch a heavy taped near leg.

U.S. coach Cecile Landi told reporters connected Sunday that Biles’ wounded is minor. The calf issues had begun a mates weeks anterior but subsided successful nan training starring up to Paris, Landi said. Sunday’s warm-up appeared to aggravate nan injury.

As Biles continued competing connected Sunday, her limb slow improved, according to her coach.

“On bars, it started to consciousness better,” Landi said, referring to Biles’ past regular of nan day. There was nary chat of sidelining Biles successful early events.

“I can’t definitive it,” Landi said. “I’m really proud of her and what she’s been done and what she’s showing nan world what she’s tin of doing.”

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Team USA gymnasts didn’t speak to reporters aft nan time of qualifying, but 1 newsman asked Biles successful nan arena passageway if she was each correct aft nan injury.

“Yup, arsenic bully arsenic I tin be,” she yelled back, according to CNN’s Coy Wire. At that constituent of nan day, however, Biles was still seen limping.

The wounded added a dash of play to an arena that’s go a must-see for athletes and celebrities alike.

The stands of Bercy Arena were buzzing and filled pinch stars connected Sunday. Tom Cruise posed for selfies while waiting for Biles to emerge. Snoop Dogg had front-row seats, and Ariana Grande, Jessica Chastain, John Legend and Anna Wintour were besides connected hand.

This isn’t nan first clip Biles has competed while injured.

The gymnast scored six medals astatine nan 2018 world championships successful Qatar while battling a kidney chromatic she nicknamed “the Doha pearl.” Biles spent immoderate clip successful an emergency room earlier nan meet.

— With files from The Associated Press