“Did You Get Lost?”: Concerned Simone Biles Stood by Suni Lee As She Dealt With Similar Dangers at US Gymnastics Championships

Simone Biles not only won her historic ninth U.S. all-around title, but she also won hearts at the 2024 U.S. Championships. Amidst the competition’s intensity, a touching moment unfolded when her Tokyo Olympics teammate, Suni Lee, faced a setback after her vault routine during the first rotation.

As the competition progressed, Biles, a supportive friend, was spotted on the sidelines, standing near Lee’s apparatuses, cheering her on with kind encouragement. Simone Biles later disclosed that her own experience with the Tokyo ‘Twisties’ and the inherent danger of falling from the vault fueled her instinct to rush to Suni’s side, understanding all too well the potential impact of such a situation.

In a post-championship press conference shared by USA Gymnastics on Instagram, Biles sat flanked by her coaches, Laurent Landi and Cecile Landi, gracefully fielding questions that lingered in fans’ minds. However, a particular exchange stood out—a heartfelt moment when Biles was asked about her interaction with Lee after her vault and uneven bar routines.

Reflecting on their shared moment, Biles recounted, “After Suni vaulted, I knew exactly what was going through her head. I dealt with that in Tokyo, so I just knew she needed some encouragement and somebody to trust her gymnastics for her and to believe in her, so that’s exactly what I did.

She continued, “I went back there and went to talk to her, and I was like, ‘Did you get lost? Or did you just decide to do a one-and-a-half?’ So we kind of just asked that, and I was like, ‘Don’t overthink your gymnastics; you’re fine.'” Biles further revealed her gesture of solidarity, saying how she even told Suni Lee, “If you want me to stand over there for bars,” and said Suni asked her, “Can you please stand over there for bars?” So that’s why Simone went over for bars as well.

Biles explained her empathetic stance, “Because I’ve been in her shoes, I’ve done that exact thing, and I know how traumatizing it is, especially on a big stage like this. And I didn’t want her to get in her head, so we just went and talked about it while she was in the back, and then when she came out, I went to support her.” However, there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

Simone Biles and Suni Lee have been ride or die pretty much their entire lives now, at-least after crossing paths as revered gymnasts. It also seems to be that Simone Biles’ love language is acts of service and gift giving. Biles once took note of Lee and the latter’s relationship with her dad in 2021, which struck a chord with the former and she decided to surprise him as well, coming in clutch.

Biles decided to, on a whim, do something nice for Lee’s father who also unfortunately happens to be paraplegic from the chest down. Suni Lee’s father, John Lee was paralyzed in 2019 and Biles decided to gift him a sliver of her life. People from Quantum Rehab were brought out to cheer John on along with a snazzy and a swanky electric chair custom fitted for him. Biles escorted the help of the Today Show for the same and brought about waves of happiness permeating through Lee’s family.

Simone Biles bemoaned ecstatically that –“Hi, Mr. Lee, it’s Simone. I love your daughter, Suni, so much and I know how much she loves you,” she said in a video John watched from a tablet. “You have done so much for her so I reached out to my friends at the Today show to see if we could do something special for you. Hope you like it.” With this pretty much solidifying why Biles is a true blue messiah and the greatest friend there is, Paris with this duo will be one to watch out for as we get to witness their collaborative spirit in action.

As we reflect on these words, it’s evident that Simone Biles has undergone significant personal growth. She effectively processed her own trauma and extended her support to her teammates in similar situations. Now, let’s delve into how the evening unfolded for Suni following Biles’ remarkable support display.

Suni Lee’s progress on Day 2 of the 2024 U.S. Championships

In rotation one on Day 2 of the Senior Women’s competition, Suni Lee struggled with her vault, scoring 12.150 after apparently getting lost in the air during her Yurchenko 1.5 and sitting it. However, she showcased her strength on the uneven bars, earning a solid score of 14.500 with an impressive routine that included a Van Leeuwen, blind change to straddle Jaeger to Pak to Maloney to Gienger, and a toe full to full-in dismount with a small hop.

Moving to the balance beam, Suni Lee displayed finesse and precision, earning a commendable score of 14.900. Her routine featured highlights such as a front aerial to split jump to back handspring and a solid side aerial loso series, ending with a stuck gainer full dismount. Finally, when moving to the floor exercise, Suni scored 13.350.

Overall, Suni Lee’s all-around score placed her in 4th place, totaling 110.650 points. As these two remarkable women stand on the cusp of another Olympic team, what are your thoughts on the profound support Simone Biles offered Suni Lee? Share in the comments below!