From Simone Biles to Suni Lee: American Gymnasts to Watch Out for at US Classic 2023

The 2023 US Classic aka 2023 Core Hydration Classic is all set to commence on August 4th. Some of the greatest stars of gymnastics will be up against each other in this much-buzzed-about event. While some of the biggest names in gymnastics are making their comebacks for different reasons. The fans cannot hold back from seeing them perform. One such name that tops the list of most anticipated comebacks in gymnastics is Simone Biles, who has been away from the sport for more than two years. One other young sensation is Suni Lee, who is also marking her comeback after months of healing from a sickness.

This most anticipated event will kick off on August 4 and conclude on August 7. The NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, will host the three-day events. A multitude of women athletes from the United States will participate in various categories, like all-around, vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor. The world will have its eyes set on the event due to the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. As the excitement for this USA Gymnastics event peaks, here is a list of athletes to look out for.

Simone Biles

She is one of the brightest shining stars of not only the United States, but she has established herself as one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world. She shares the record for the most Olympic medals (7) by an American gymnast with Shannon Miller. In May 2021, she participated in the US Classic and made her debut in the Yurchenko double pike vault, becoming the first woman to complete it. She also grabbed the all-around title during the events. In the month of June of the same year, she participated in the US National Championships and clinched her 7th all-around title. With this win, she also qualified for the Olympic trials.

During the Olympics trials, she made her way to the top and fixed her spot on the 2020 Olympics team. During the Olympics, she helped Team USA qualify for the team final after her exceptional performance in all-around. Then, in individuals, she qualified for the all-around finals in first place and then qualified for the vault finals in first place. These two qualifications were followed by floor exercise finals, balance beam, and uneven bars, which marked her as the only gymnast to qualify for all the individual finals. However, she later withdrew her name from uneven bars, all-around, and then vault; citing mental health reasons. She finished with two medals at the 2020 Olympics, which included a silver in the women’s artistic team all-around and a bronze in the women’s balance beam. Post-Olympics, it was revealed by Biles that she was suffering from ‘the twisties, which is a psychological condition in which an individual loses concentration while in the air.

She was put to the test at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, both physically and more so mentally, and took a 2-year break from the sport. Cut to 2023: She made an announcement in June 2023 that she would be making a comeback in gymnastics at the upcoming 2023 US Classic. With all that in place, her fans and the gymnastics community are excited to see the return of the GOAT.

Sunisa Lee

If Simone Biles is the present of US gymnastics, then Suni Lee is definitely the future and is the reigning all-around Olympic champion. She is one of the most promising gymnasts, and she proved that during the 2020 Olympics. Lee, who hails from Saint Paul, Minnesota, is the first individual from the Hmong community to compete at the Olympics. Lee was a member of the team that won a gold medal at the 2019 World Championships. She is the tenth-most decorated American female gymnast for her six world championships and Olympic medals.

During the Olympic trials, Lee performed routines and was placed second behind Biles on the first day of the trials. On day two, she marked a combined score of 58.166, surpassing Biles, who scored 57.533, which marked the only third time someone surpassed Biles’ score. Overall, Lee finished second during the trials and qualified for the Olympics automatically. During the Olympics, she was one of the gymnasts who helped Team USA qualify for the all-around event. Lee replaced Biles in floor exercise after her withdrawal and hit all the routines to help the USA claim the silver. In individuals, she won the gold medal in the all-around after hitting all of her four routines. She then claimed a bronze medal in the uneven bars as well.

In November 2022, Lee announced her final season with Auburn University and her decision to return to elite gymnastics so as to focus on the 2024 Paris Olympics. In April, she had to enter the final season a bit early due to a kidney condition that made her take a break from gymnastics for more than 4 months. She has started her training from past few months and is looking to make a statement. With her return in August, Lee will be looking to make the most of it and announce her return in style.

Jordan Chiles

She is one of Biles closest friends and was a member of the team that won a gold medal at the 2022 World Championships. In individual performances, she won a silver in the vault and a silver in the floor events. She has been a member of the US women’s national gymnastics team since 2013. During the 2020 Olympics, Chile won a silver medal in the team event. She won a team gold medal during the 2022 world championships and two individual silvers in floor exercise and vault.

For her return, Chiles is currently training with the UCLA Bruins and will prepare for the Olympics with her long-time friend Simone Biles. She has only two silver medals in her cabinet so far in individuals, and as far as her skills are concerned, she is no less than one of the greatest upcoming gymnasts for the United States. Fans will also be following her performance closely at the US Classic.

Jade Carey

Arizona-based Carey is best known for her skills in vault and floor exercises events. She won a gold medal during the 2020 Olympics in floor exercise and has won silver and bronze at the 2017 and 2022 World Championships. She was also one of the gymnasts who represented Team USA in the 2020 Olympics, and she also won a gold in Vault at the 2022 World Championships.

With all these performances, she appears to be a promising gymnast for Team USA, and her individual performances also speak volumes about her talent. she is definitely a gymnast to watch out for.

Lexi Zeiss?

She is one of the youngest budding American Gymnastics talents. She made her elite gymnastics debut in 2021 during the Winter Cup. She was a member of the USA team that won Silver during the 2020 Olympics. 2023 can be a breakthrough year for Zeiss; she already has an all-around title under her belt, which she won during the 2023 Winter Cup in February in Kentucky.

She posted 53.200 to claim the win. She is one of those underrated gymnasts who can surprise the gymnastics world in the upcoming US Classic and her fans are rooting for her..

Skye Blakely?

Blakely has probably seen the toughest time in her career as she sustained a heartbreaking injury during the Olympic trials in 2021. She was running towards the vault when she stumbled and tumbled into the equipment, injuring her left elbow. She underwent surgery, and it took her more than seven months to recover and go through a painful rehabilitation process.

In her career, she was a member of the team that claimed the World Championship title in 2022, and she also has a silver medal that she won during the PAN American Championships during the same year. With her impressive form, she appears ready to leave a lasting impression at the Hoffman Estates arena and aims to secure her spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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As the 2023 US Classic approaches, the excitement among gymnastics fans is soaring high. With iconic gymnasts like Simone Biles making a triumphant comeback after two years and young talents like Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Skye Blakely showcasing their determination, the event promises thrilling performances. This competition serves as a stepping stone for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, and fans eagerly await the exceptional displays of skill, determination, and sportsmanship in this highly anticipated gymnastics spectacle.

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