What to Know about Simone Biles at the Paris Olympics: Absent from Opening Ceremony

Simone Biles has been a major topic at the Paris Olympics for a few reasons. On July 26, during the opening ceremony, Simone was absent with her U.S.A. gymnastics team due to needing rest before the women’s qualifiers on July 28. Her mother, Nellie Biles, explained, “The first competition is Sunday, which is women’s qualifier, and, of course, she needs to rest up before that competition.”

During the qualifiers, Simone faced a setback when she tweaked her calf in warmups and was seen with medical tape on her leg. Despite the injury, Simone performed admirably. She demonstrated remarkable resilience, much like her decision to prioritize mental health at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Online reactions have been mixed. Some criticized her, suggesting the injury was an excuse or staged. One comment on X read, “Smart. This time, if she wants to quit, she can blame injury instead of nerves.” However, others praised her, with a fan stating, “Me in my living room at 3AM watching Simone Biles smash her floor routine on a taped-up leg. #OlympicGames.”

Simone also made headlines for achieving an Olympic first with the “hardest vault in the world,” the Yurchenko double pike. Despite this, some focused on her appearance, with comments like, “Can someone fix her hair for her, please?!”

Ultimately, Simone’s performance, even with a calf injury, highlights her extraordinary skill and determination.