The long wait for the Core Hydration Classic 2024 is finally over! In the heart of gymnastics fervor, the stage is set for a monumental showdown unlike any other. This event marks a historic moment where the giants of gymnastics converge, vying for supremacy under one roof. And this year, the fight is tougher and better than ever! The anticipation has shot through the roof, as three Olympic all-around champions will be going toe-to-toe at the XL Centre in Heartford, Connecticut.

Scheduled for May 18th, this year marks the 40th edition of the event. Adding to the excitement, a couple of variables are present for the fans to be jubilant. For starters, this would be the first televised gymnastics event of the year in the US. Serving as the ultimate qualifier for the Xfinity US Championships, this tournament holds the key to Olympic glory, with athletes competing for coveted spots on the final roster. With gymnasts like Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Jordan Chiles trying to get a ticket to Paris, a detailed case study of the competition feels necessary.

Core Hydration Classics 2024: A showcase of gymnastics legends

Till now, all of the preceding gymnastics events featured the big guns, but separately. However, the Core Hydration Classics will be the first instance where the gymnastics greats will fight toe-to-toe with each other. Interestingly, the latest edition will witness as many as three Olympic all-around champions in action all at once. While the presence of the 2016 and the 2020 Olympic all-around winners, Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee were expected, the third entrant is quite a surprise. 

After an 8-year hiatus, the 2012 all-around champion Gabby Douglas decided to make a comeback. All three would look to get things going right from the word go. This tournament serves as the final call for the athletes to qualify for the Xfinity US Championships 2024. Judging by the gymnasts’ performances at these two events, the final Olympic roster for the USA will be announced. 

Taking place on May 18, the Core Hydration Classics will be televised live on CNBC and Peacock. The starting time of the same would be 7 pm to 9 pm ET. However, the event will also be available for online streaming for fans who don’t prefer the television. The NBC Sports app and NBCSports.com will stream the event live for fans within the USA to enjoy the spectacle. However, a VPN would be the best option for fans outside the country who wish to catch their favorite stars in action. Thus, with the streaming details sorted, here’s a look at what to expect from the clash of the titans. 

Exploring the expectations: Suni Lee, Simone Biles, and Gabby Douglas

The trio of Lee, Biles, and Douglas accounts for a combined 49 Olympic and World Championship gold medals. And justifying her status as the US gymnastics queen, Simone Biles holds 37 of the total tally, with Lee and Douglas boasting six medals each. Biles, who is considered probably the greatest of the modern era, will be the frontrunner for winning the gold. Her shenanigans inside the gymnastics mat made her win a whopping 29 gold medals across all competitions. Unfortunately, her smooth sailing was abruptly halted by her mental health issues and ‘twisties’ at the Tokyo Olympics. 

Biles went for a complete rehab following Tokyo and spent several months outside the gymnastics realm. However, considering the champion Biles is, she has come back strong and is raring to go, looking to replicate her earlier victories. Well, if Simone Biles has a comeback story, so do Suni Lee and Gabby Douglas. 

The absence of Simone Biles paved the way for Suni Lee to rise to the occasion. Displaying immense talent, Lee became the all-around queen in Tokyo. However, much like Biles, her run, too, was cut short by physical troubles. Lee developed a kidney-related complication that forced her to withdraw from the top-tier competition. While most people doubted if she would ever return, Lee worked hard to claw her way back. And with the opportunity served on a platter, Suni Lee will definitely be a prominent contender to win the Classics and seal her Olympic berth. 

Next up, we have the most impressive story, which involves Gabby Douglas. Following the conclusion of the Rio Olympics, Douglas walked away from her profession, which seemed like a possible retirement. She worked in television and also started a business. However, in a shocking turn of events, Douglas announced her comeback. And by the looks of her performance in the 2024 American Classics, Gabby Douglas might just be the dark horse that can pose significant problems for Lee and Biles. 

Interestingly, the Core Hydration Classics is an unpredictable event. Several times, big names have been defeated by the young ones, announcing their emergence to the competitive scene. Likewise, Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, and Jordan Chiles will also be lurking around the corner to dethrone the big shots of the discipline. 

Are Shilese Jones, Jordan Chiles, Leanne Wong, and others ready to make their mark?

While all eyes will be on the big three, the likes of Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, and Jordan Chiles cannot be ruled out easily. Chiles boasts of an Olympic silver as well as gold medals at the Pan American and the World Championships. Training alongside Simone Biles, Chiles would definitely be eager to show her senior glimpses of her talents by trying to outshine the gymnastics queen. 

Next up, Shilese Jones is a World Champion silver medalist. Competing at the 2022 Liverpool edition, Jones clinched the all-around title that made the fans sit up and take note. She continued her sublime run by grabbing consecutive golds in 2023 and 2024, competing as a team. Ahead of her 2023 World Athletics bronze, Jones lost her father in a dreadful car crash. Determined to honor her father’s dream, Jones is looking to take the Classics by storm and take a shot at Olympic glory. 

Rounding off the list of the young brigade is Leanne Wong. She is a 3x World team member for the US on balance beam and is also the 2024 Honda Award nominee. Looking to make her presence felt, Wong would be itching to script an upset. Thus, with so many exciting matchups lined up, it will be interesting to see how the proceedings follow come May 18.