As the Paris Olympics 2024 is drawing near, the gymnasts want to make the most of the remaining 158 days. Having said so, one of the first big events of this year, the 2024 Winter Cup will be a kind of warm-up for them. Ahead of the US Olympic Trials and the Nationals, the gymnastic crackerjack Simone Biles is engrossed in her ‘dream house’ construction and strategic gymnastic training. But she dropped off from the upcoming Winter Cup.

Biles is not only training at the Houston World Champions Center for herself but also inspiring the young crowd to follow her steps. Following her, Jordan Chiles, the 26-year-old core compatriot, and a WCC trainee, has withdrawn from the February 24 event. Besides them, which other gymnasts have joined the pull-out list?

Gymnasts who followed Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles

As the push for the Paris Olympics begins, the US gymnasts are on a spree to upgrade their A-games. Aiming to make her third Olympic team and add more to her 7 Olympic medal purse, Biles is pitching up as the hot favorite. Though she has withdrawn from the February event, we can expect her at the US Nationals and Hydration Core Classic. Jordan Chiles, the 2023 Pan-Am Games all-around bronze medalist, is currently on her healing journey after speaking about a minor shoulder injury.

Moving on, Zoe Miller, the 2023 Pan-Am Games uneven bars gold medalist has also backed off in the wake of an injury. As the qualifier event of the US Gymnastics Championships, many would be vying for Winter Cup medals. But Chiles and Miller have no reason to worry after having secured spots already.

To join their tribe, Fred Richard, the history-maker of the men’s gymnastics team, has made headlines as an absentee from the Winter Cup list. He is also sitting out ‘due to minor injuries’, but will reappear in the next events. So, who do we root for then?

Suni Lee and Gabby Douglas are the comeback favorites

Olympian Gabby Douglas hasn’t hit the gymnastic mat since she walked home with the team gold in 2016. On the other hand, Suni Lee, who has been battling kidney issues, hasn’t been competing since the 2023 Nationals. But along with coach Jess Graba, she’s not only looking to bag medals but also preparing for her skill-naming (full-twisting, layout Jaeger on the uneven bars) ceremony in Baku at the next meet.

READ MORE: Simone Biles’ ‘Speechless’ Moments: Reflecting on Triumph and Setback During Black History Month

We have eyes on these two gymnastic phenoms this year, but also wish to witness big names like Yul Moldauer and Leanne Wong in action. If Lee manages to look past her health issues and go all in, she has a fair chance of nabbing her second Olympic all-around gold. But the 4x gold medalist Biles is also in no mood to be so generous.

Watch this story: “Beat You”: Gymnastics’ Emerging Sensation Challenges Simone Biles for the Lead.