Simone Biles’ ‘Journey to Paris’ for the 2024 Olympics Starts With Non-Alcoholic Champagne, 1st Competition
04.08.2023 - 18:47
/ usmagazine.com
Simone Biles celebrated her return to gymnastic competition with style — and mocktails — on the road to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Biles, 26, documented her “journey to Paris” via her Instagram Story beginning on Thursday, August 3. For the Olympic gold medalist, that road began with a private plane ride and flowers that appeared to be from her husband, Jonathan Owens. (Biles and the Green Bay Packers player, 28, tied the knot in April.)
Once Biles landed in Illinois for the Core Hydration Classic — a.k.a. the U.S. Classic — she met up with former Team U.S.A. member Jordan Chiles for a drink.
“Cheers!” Biles captioned an Instagram Story video on Thursday alongside Chiles, 22. Biles then pointed out that the champagne in the clip was “nonalcoholic” as both women are in training for the upcoming Olympics.
On Friday, August 4, Biles checked in for her first competition since she withdrew from the final team event during the Tokyo Games in July 2021. (The U.S. Classic will take place on Saturday, August 5.)
“Welcome to Now Arena. The Journey to Paris 2024 Starts Here,” a sign read as Biles arrived on Friday alongside a red, white and blue balloon wall. The gymnast revealed via her Instagram Story that a giant Eiffel Tower cutout was also part of the welcoming committee.
Biles’ future as a gymnast has been a hot topic since she decided to withdraw from several events in Tokyo in 2021 after developing “the twisties,” which is when athletes experience the loss of control over their bodies while spinning through the air.
“I didn’t have a bad performance & quit,” Biles wrote via Instagram in 2021. “I’ve had plenty of bad performances throughout my career and finished the competition. I simply got so lost [that] my safety was at risk as