In her first competition since the Tokyo Olympics, the 26-year-old American wowed the Chicago crowd by winning the US Classic.
In 2021, Biles declared that she would be taking a break to focus on her mental health.
Everyone in the crowd who was shouting and making posters for Biles “just made my heart melt that they still believe in me,” she said.
“I worked very hard on myself after everything that happened in Tokyo, so it means the world.
It has just been so great to come out here and have the confidence I had before. I still go to counseling once a week.
Biles won with an all-around total of 59.100 points and received a thunderous reception at the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
“Everything is now in its proper position. I’m pretty happy with where I’m at right now, both emotionally and physically, she stated.
“I still believe that there are some aspects of my routine that need improvement, but overall, I would say the first meet back went well. I’m incredibly astonished and shocked. Now that it’s out of the way, I’m overjoyed.
Prior to winning the meet’s top score on the balance beam with 14.800 points, she started on the uneven bars, where her score of 14.000 points was the third-best overall.
Every time Biles performed a tumbling run on the floor exercise, there were applause before and after. Her flips and landings also brought cheers, and she received the highest possible score of 14.900 points.
She came to a close on the vault, rising high to record another top score of 15.400.
Joscelyn Roberson, 17, finished third on 54.050, five points behind leader Leanne Wong, 19, who finished second on 54.100.
Since pulling out of five of her six finals at the postponed Tokyo Games in 2021, it was Biles’ first competition.
Later, she revealed that she had been experiencing “twisties,” a mental barrier that can cause gymnasts to become disoriented in the air.
Biles has not yet stated whether she plans to try to qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2020.
She is hoping to compete for a global championship in Antwerp, Belgium, in October after qualifying for the US national championships, which get underway on August 24.
“I always kind of knew [I’d return] as soon as everything happened in Tokyo,” she remarked. “This time, my motivation is personal.
“I put a lot of work into myself, and I have a little more faith in myself. Just returning here and taking the first steps once more.
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