Simone Biles is gearing up for the Gold Over America Tour, just a month after her dazzling performance at the Paris Olympics. Most recently, she won three golds and a silver. The 27-year-old gymnast has been giving fans sneak peeks of her tour routines on social media. And here’s the scoop: there’s a new addition to her show that’s sure to get everyone talking.

Seven months ago, when Trinity Thomas competed at February’s Winter Cup in Louisville, Kentucky, her performance was nothing short of spectacular. But no one thought she was really back! That competition was her first elite competition since 2019, and it was clear that the University of Florida star was firing on all cylinders.

Back in 2020, Thomas announced her retirement from elite gymnastics, citing ankle injuries that had hampered her preparation for the 2020 Olympics. She chose to focus on her recovery and continue competing at the NCAA level. But the tides have changed.

Recently, Trinity Thomas made headlines again when she shared an exciting update on Instagram. She re-shared a post from Inside Gymnastics magazine, announcing her addition to the Gold Over America Tour. The post highlighted Thomas as an “NCAA Champion and Inside Gymnastics magazine cover star Trinity Thomas has joined the Gold Over America Tour! Trinity holds the record for the most 10.0s in NCAA history, tied with Jenny Hansen (Kentucky) and Jamie Dantzscher (UCLA). So exciting!”

For context, Inside Gymnastics has a promotional partnership with the Gold Over America Tour. Trinity Thomas, a four-time National Team member from 2016 to 2020, has an impressive track record, including a gold medal with the team at the 2018 Pan American Gymnastics Championships and multiple medals at the 2017 national championships. Her return to the spotlight is a big win for the gymnastics community.

The Gold Over America Tour kicks off on September 17. Alongside Simone Biles, it will be joined by Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, along with nine other top gymnasts. Also, Stephen Nedoroscik, Fred Richard, Paul Juda, and Brody Malone will also be featured. But this raises the question: why is Trinity Thomas joining now, and where has she been in recent years? Why wasn’t she part of the Paris Olympics?

Reconnecting with old friends and finding your groove

Trinity Thomas ended her collegiate career on a high note at the 2022 NCAA Championships, scoring a flawless 10.0 on vault. Despite battling a lower leg injury that made her apparatus choice a tough decision, she put on a remarkable show. As she shifted her focus to elite gymnastics, her main goal was to regain her health, emphasizing, “The skills will come, but if I don’t have my health first, it doesn’t matter.”

Once she was back in action as she came in the winter cup, Thomas had to adjust from the precision of her NCAA routines to the more challenging demands of elite gymnastics. She explained, “In college gym, I was so focused on being perfect, which can be hard. I mean, there’s no such thing as perfect.” Now, she’s taking things one step at a time, celebrating the small wins and understanding that both good and bad days are part of the process. Her approach shows a lot of maturity and experience, which she’s brought back into the sport. As she puts it, “I’m not really worried about the thing at the end of the tunnel. I’m worried about doing it one step at a time and building on the foundation I have now.”

However, Trinity Thomas sadly missed out on the 2024 Paris Olympics after an unfortunate injury during the US Gymnastics Championships. While performing a double layout on the floor exercise, she slipped and took a hard fall, which forced her to pull out of the rest of the competition. This injury not only sidelined her but also meant she couldn’t get the qualifying score she needed for the US Olympic Gymnastics Trials in Minneapolis, ultimately costing her a shot at making the team for Paris. It was a tough break for the Pennsylvania native.

Her return to the sport has also brought her joy in reconnecting with fellow gymnasts. Thomas is excited to support and be supported by her peers, and her positive attitude reflects her deep commitment to both her own growth and the gymnastics community. Seeing her in action alongside Simone Biles during the Gold Over America Tour is sure to be a thrill. Are you as excited as we are?