“(Simone Biles) Can Still Make Mistakes”: Suni Lee’s Coach Graba Issues Stern Statement Days Before US Olympic Trials

Tokyo triumph was the highlight of Suni Lee’s career, but what came next? After that, everything turned upside down for her as she faced health challenges. But now, Suni Lee charges back with gusto! Lee isn’t taking anything for granted as she gears up for her second Olympic bid. Before that, she’s set to tackle the Olympic trials starting on June 27th, where she’ll vie against her Tokyo 2020 teammate, Simone Biles, for a coveted spot in Paris representing Team USA.

However, Tokyo 2020 didn’t unfold as planned for Simone Biles, who grappled with the mental blocks she dubbed the “twisties,” prompting her withdrawal from the vault and bars finals. Yet, amidst the unexpected turn of events, Suni Lee, then just 18 years old, found herself thrust into the spotlight, tasked with shouldering the weight of immense pressure. Despite the daunting circumstances, Lee rose to the occasion, delivering performances that dazzled audiences worldwide. However, three years have passed since then, and Suni Lee’s coach has recently shared an intriguing insight into what he sensed at that moment In 2021.

On 24th June, the publication from the Star Tribune shed new light on Lee’s coach’s foresight regarding Biles’s eventual exit from the competition. Coach Graba recounted the tumultuous day, describing the myriad challenges Lee faced while adjusting her floor routine amidst the intense Olympic atmosphere. But, Graba’s strategic approach also revolved around staying within close reach of Biles, recognizing the inherent unpredictability of gymnastics, even for the sport’s greatest athlete.

As he puts it, “Simone is the greatest gymnast around, but she can still make mistakes, and our plan was always to be close enough to her that if she made a mistake, we’d be right there. And because Simone tries really, really hard gymnastics, the chance of her making a mistake is always there.”

But after withdrawing from the Olympics, Simone Biles made a strong comeback in 2023 at the Classics. She amazed everyone by successfully performing a difficult move called the Yurchenko double pike and won the U.S. Classic with a huge lead of 5 points. Looking ahead to the Paris 2024 Olympics, one wonders if Suni Lee and Simone Biles could team up again.

Can Simone Biles and Suni Lee secure a spot in Paris?

Looking at Simone Biles’s performances this season, she showcased her talent in two championships. In May 2024, Biles dominated the U.S. Classic, securing victory with a score of 59.5 points, leading by 1.85 points over Shilese Jones. Impressively, Biles excelled across various apparatuses, posting the highest scores on vault and floor exercise while placing second on uneven bars and balance beam, behind Jones and Suni Lee.

Continuing her streak of success, Biles secured her ninth all-around national title at the US Gymnastics Championships in June. With a combined score of 119.750, she outperformed her competitors, including Skye Blakely, Kayla DiCello, Suni Lee, and Jordan Chiles. Biles’s optimistic outlook for the future shines through as she expresses, “Getting comfortable and confident in my gymnastics and hopefully going to Olympic trials and making that next step towards Paris“. But what about Suni Lee?

After Tokyo 2020, Suni Lee joined Auburn University, guided by coach Jeff Graba. However, her post-Olympic journey took an unexpected turn last year when she faced health issues, including an incurable kidney disease diagnosis that halted her training for six months. Despite these setbacks, Suni Lee didn’t give up.

In her first all-around competition in elite gymnastics since the Tokyo Games, Suni faced challenges, including a surprising fall on the vault during the US Classic. Nevertheless, she finished in fourth place, just .150 points behind the all-around podium. Building on this momentum, she went on to place fourth in the all-around at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships.

As she puts it after that, “I’m just trying to keep my composure, and now I know I just have to go back to the gym and work on my consistency, get my bar routine with full difficulty a and keep staying consistent on beam.”Considering their journey and ongoing improvement, their prospects for Paris are promising. Do you believe they can make it to Paris? Share your thoughts below!