No Simone Biles in The 2024 Winter Cup: Could It Be A Big Setback For Team USA?

At the behest of the Olympic platform, the American choice would be watching Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Gabby Douglas taking stands with each other. Ultimately, this trio indicates the golden run that Team USA has been dictating on Olympic gymnastics for the last two decades. The dream run started with Carly Patterson’s all-around gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. In consecutive turns, Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Suni Lee claimed the same title. The 2024 Paris Olympics could be the sixth in that trot. Moreover, in a rare turn of events, the ephemeral trio could be present there together for the very first time (and for the last time maybe!). But before that, the Winter Cup could have been a marvelous chance to see the three starlets opposing each other, edging to show the glittering in leotard. 

But with Simone Biles bowing out, the stage is now limited to the rest of the two. Does that leave room for uncomfortable questions before the Paris Olympics, or would it be too early to jostle into that? Let’s find a suitable perspective. 

Simone Biles to miss out on the 2024 Winter Cup: the reason behind her absence

Simone Biles’ routine exercise in the US National Camp under Carly Patterson’s glance evoked her returning chance after the 2023 World Championship. Moreover, that camp’s timeline conjured to the 7x Olympic medalist’s returning probability this month, in the Winter Cup. 

However, Biles herself never went vocal, sprinkling her share on the deliberate participation question. Moreover, the contest holds the ability to qualify gymnasts for the upcoming US National Classic. But that couldn’t change the scenario for Simone as she is still maintaining her silence while the registration window is rearing to find the end day. In such a situation, her decision may indicate one side that Simone is choosing her battles mindfully now. Standing at the age of 26, the American sensation may not hound each contest. So, a selective approach may help her to run more days. But in such a strategy, one complexity is bound to come, and that is gelling with the formation. 

A notable absentee in 2024 Winter Cup: how Simone Biles’s absence can hamper Team USA 

Before coming to the obvious team selection for the upcoming bouts, let’s have a look at the American team for the last two occasions. 

In the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship in Antwerp, Simone Biles was joined by Skye Blakely, Shilese Jones, Joscelyn Roberson, and Leanne Wong in the team events. Eventually, the nearest opponent, Brazil, could stay behind by a vast gap. Moreover, in the Tokyo Olympics team, Simone Biles found Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Grace McCallum with her in giving a rigid challenge to the champion team, ROC. Coincidentally, from these two American squads, only Suni Lee and Skye Blakely have registered for the upcoming Winter Cup. The rest of the elite gymnasts backed out. Among them, Jordan Chiles and Joscelyn Roberson’s exit decision came after Simone pulled out. However, both Jordan and Roberson blamed their injury for forcing them out. Nevertheless, such a concerted absence has minimized the chance of framing the USA team with the same faces in the future. Despite that, a missing berth might be a chance for the waiting ones to fill in the gap. The Winter Cup could answer the quest for a suitable replacement. 

A big chance: athletes who have to step up to fill this void

“SO happy to get back out on the competition floor and enjoy this sport that i fell in love with as a little girl, see you in Louisville!”: that came from Gabby Douglas, airing her excitement for the Winter Cup. 

Just like Simone Biles, Gabby is chasing her third Olympics. If the pair succeed in their goal, they will touch Dominique Dawes, the legend of the sport. In sharing more similarities with the 23x world champion, Gabby also hung her leotard for a sizeable chunk of years. Now, after lighting the fire again, the 28-year-old is about to defy all the odds to find herself on the Olympic podium again. That keeps her in the same frame as Simone Biles as well. So, in the absence of her 2016 Olympic teammate, Gabby will want to rouse the similar fanfare in Kentucky. That applies to Suni Lee as well. Except for this duo, NCAA spearhead Trinity Thomas would challenge Skye Blakely to captivate the contest. Except for them, Alicia Zhou will try to repeat her gold-winning performance from the 2023 Pan American Games. The 2023 Winter Cup all-around champion, Lexi Zeiss, will be there as well. She was on standby for the American team that earned the 2022 World Championship medal. 

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

Even after this bunch of veteran and promising gymnasts, the Winter Cup would still feel Simone Biles’s absence. Her Amanar vault in the Texas camp already managed to achieve a humongous hype. But if the athlete is on the side of saving her energy for upcoming days, then her fans should expect more fireworks in the future. 

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