Simone Biles Takes on Olympic Gymnastics Despite Calf Injury: Key Insights

Biles’ coach said the calf had been bothering her for a few weeks, but described the injury as minor.

PARIS, France — Simone Biles showcased her resilience by dominating the qualifying rounds with the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the Paris Olympics on Sunday, despite a noticeable limp and calf issue.

Here’s what we know about Biles’ status:

U.S. coach Cecile Landi confirmed that Biles’ injury, while persistent, is minor. The injury has been troubling her for a couple of weeks with no plans to sideline the seven-time Olympic medalist.

“I can’t express it,” Landi commented. “I’m really proud of her and what she’s been through and what she’s showing the world what she’s capable of doing.”

Biles and the rest of Team USA refrained from speaking to reporters after qualifying.

Did her calf issue impact her qualifying score?

Not significantly. Biles still leads the all-around standings with a total score of 59.566.

During the qualifying, Biles impressed a star-studded crowd on the balance beam. However, she appeared to aggravate her leg while warming up for the floor exercise. Accompanied by Team USA doctor Marcia Faustin, she left the floor briefly, reminiscent of the Tokyo Olympics when she exited the team competition for her safety.

Despite having her ankle taped, Biles achieved the highest scores on both floor and vault through two subdivisions. However, she did reduce the difficulty of her uneven bars routine, omitting a new skill she had submitted to the International Gymnastics Federation. She completed her usual set with a score of 14.333 and cautiously managed her dismount.

Is Biles still planning to compete?

Coach Landi asserted there’s been no consideration of pulling Biles from the Paris Olympics.

Biles’ next appearance is scheduled for the team final on Tuesday — the very event she withdrew from in Tokyo, which sparked an international conversation on mental health. The individual all-around follows on Thursday, where Biles and her teammate, Tokyo gold medalist Sunisa Lee, will become the first pair of Olympic all-around champions to compete against each other in an all-around final.