Paris Olympics 2024: Simone Biles and Team USA’s Gold Chances Skyrocket As Fans Speculate About Team GB Dwindling

Great Britain’s gymnastics team is capable of posing a significant threat to Team USA at the Paris Olympics. In Tokyo, they finished just below the USA’s squad for a bronze medal and have had success in recent tournaments. But a recent run of injuries and a surprising development may hamper their chances at the upcoming Games while providing a massive chance to the USA contingent.

Veteran GB gymnast Ondine Achampong withdrew from the European Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championship due to a torn ACL. This would likely rule her out of Paris, denting Team GB’s chances. 

Jessica Gadirova is also going through an ACL injury scare and the chances of her return are also faint. On the other hand, a dislocated elbow has posed a question mark on Alice Kisella’s chances for Paris. Amid all this came another shock when Amelie Morgan called time on her elite gymnastics career.

Notably, Kisella, Gadirova, and Morgan were members of the GB team that won bronze in Tokyo. They were sitting just behind the USA’s squad who grabbed the silver with 166.096. Team GB’s score was 164.096. GB might find it difficult to form a team with equivalent experience, as it has become a race against time now. Such a situation might prove to be fruitful for Biles and her compatriots. But that’s not all.

Amidst, the injury crisis, the head coach of Britain’s women’s gymnastics team, David Kenwright has also stepped down on the eve of the European Championships with the Olympics less than 100 days away. He had led Team GB to a silver at the World Championships in 2022 and a European team gold last year.

He was also the man behind Britain’s first Olympic women’s team medal in 93 years at the Tokyo Games. But his decision to quit the team, coupled with the injury crisis, has fans worried about Team GB’s chances in Paris.

“Seems kinda screwed,” Fans worry about Team GB’s chances at Paris Olympics

Ondine Achampong informed about her withdrawal from the European Championships earlier this week. On Instagram, she revealed, “As most of you know I had to pull out of the European Championships earlier this week. I landed a bars dismount at one of our final control competitions at Lilleshall and following an MRI scan it was discovered that I’ve torn my ACL. I feel devastated..”  Fans were equally devastated it seemed.

One such fan commented about Ondine’s injury and the less fortunate situation that followed Team GB: “That hope died with Ondine’s injury. Amelie would’ve been helpful, but with two of their top three out it wasn’t going to happen either way.”

The further discussion on the present situation of the British team was not pleasant as several arguments came up on the dwindling state. But it could be a chance for the American team as both Amelie and Ondine proved their mettle on the floor exercise in several past instances. So their absence from the lineup might help American gymnasts like Jade Carey who hold distinct artistry on the floor exercise. 

Morgan is also a 2022 world silver medalist who has the rare distinction of being successful in both elite and college gymnastics. In the national leotard, she has a Tokyo Olympic bronze medal and at the NCAA realm, she boasts of having a Pac-12 All-Academic selection.

A fan also grieved over the absence of Ondine and Morgan. But with that, they suggested several replacements for the British lineup. “Who’s most likely to make the team now? I have to imagine Alice, Becky, Georgia-Mae, Ruby Evans and someone else?” they wrote. Among the names mentioned Georgia-Mae Fenton is a member of the 2022 World silver medal-winning team. 

But such suggestions remained futile to several fans. Another user thinks these injuries mean Team GB may not be competitive enough in the Olympics. They wrote, “Geez, GB seems kinda screwed. Who have they got that are locks now. Who’s in position to fight for remaining spots?”

Jessica Gadirova, out injured currently, has been a three-time World medalist while also having 5 European Championships in her kitty. It does look like Team GB is out of nearly all of their best players and someone put it down to luck. They wrote, “GB are out of luck!”

Interestingly, despite the presence of some of these top players, the British team finished behind the USA at the 2022 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Also in the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships, Team GB remained far behind, in the sixth position.

Still this could mean that Team USA’s chances of securing gold at the Paris Olympics are bright, given how competitive Team GB can be. But with them being stripped of their best assets,