Simone Biles’ Coach Overwhelmed as US Gymnastics’ Former National Team Star Stages Triumphant Comeback

Auburn Gymnastics recently welcomed one of its promising talents for the years ahead as 19-year-old Olivia Greaves announced her comeback. The former US gymnastics national team member had been off the mats for about a season. However, getting through the adversities, Greaves pushed on, earning a cheer from the community around.

Injuries have often followed the rising gymnastics name through her path to the national team and otherwise. The circumstances delayed her collegiate debut by 2 years, inclusive of a change in university. Nonetheless, the youngster braved through to finally make her comeback on Friday for Auburn gymnastics, receiving a response from coach Cécile Landi.

The gymnastics star receives an emotional welcome

A day after Olivia Greaves’ comeback against Temple, Talladega, and Fisk, Cécile Landi, who is a coach to Simone Biles and other national team members at the World Champions Center, took to her Instagram stories to share a prideful reel of the gymnast’s comeback. She added tear-filled emoticons on her page as Greaves explained her gymnastics path. “Mentally I was like I’m so done. But my coaches and teammates, they lift me up. They made me realize I am still worthy and I can still do this and it’s not over yet,” Greaves can be heard saying.

The 19-year-old recalls her path on incurring an injury on a beam in August a season ago. The ‘freak accident’ arrived just when Greaves was getting back on the gymnastics path following the previous adversities. Through success and odds, Olivia Greaves has survived a roller coaster of a ride.

A journey of highs and lows for Olivia Greaves

Olivia Greaves started her Junior Elite gymnastics career back in 2018. A year later, she was competing at the US Classics and National Championships. From there, it was an intriguing path for the youngster as she shifted to the World Champions Centre and made the National team in 2021. Swiss Cup and World Championships alternate that year, put Greaves on the map, garnering an offer for Florida University. However, when she fractured her elbow nearer to the Olympic trials, the offer was pulled out, having Suni Lee step in.

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“The day I lost my scholarship to Florida, [Suni] texted me right away and said she gave my number to the Auburn coaches. She had been a true friend,” she recalls. She was then set to make a collegiate debut in January 2023, but her knee injury kept her away. On Friday, at the Neville Arena, Olivia posted a 9.875 on bars to finally make her comeback. And when Suni Lee posted “so proud of you,” she represented the thousands of gymnastics fans awaiting Greaves’ comeback.

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