Simone Biles and Many More Dwarf Other US Olympic Trials Showcasing Gymnastics’ Popularity in America

“I knew I wasn’t done after my performances in Tokyo,” declared Simone Biles with unwavering resolve. “I knew I would be back.” With these resolute words, Biles ignited fervent anticipation at the US Olympic Trials. Alongside her fellow gymnasts, they reaffirmed their dominance with breathtaking routines, securing their spots for the Paris Olympics. Their triumphant return not only captivated but also reinforced the indomitable spirit of gymnastics among fans nationwide. With just three weeks until the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, countries are finalizing their top teams with elite athletes.

In the USA, the Olympic trials have been a spectacle throughout the cycle, drawing enormous crowds. The swimming trials transformed an NFL stadium into an indoor pool for over 17,000 spectators, underscoring the event’s magnitude. Similarly, tickets for gymnastics trials, especially for women’s events, soared above $300, reflecting the fervor and anticipation this year. Meanwhile, track and field trials have showcased fierce competition and outstanding performances, adding to the excitement. Viewers across the nation are eagerly tuning in to see who will represent them on the global stage.

A primetime sensation: Simone Biles leads the dominant showing at the 2024 Olympic Trials

In an article by Barrett Media on July 2, 2024, they reported how the 2024 US Olympic trials have seen a significant spike in viewership as compared to the past 8 years. The latest event on Sunday drew in 8.2 million viewers between the peak times of 10 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. EST. This was the time when the women’s gymnastics finals were aired.

In the event, Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Hezly Rivera, and Jordan Chiles made the US Olympic team. This was a 30% hike as compared to 2021. The swimming trials in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana drew in around 3.2 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. It has increased by nearly 20% when compared to the 2021 trials. Even diving saw a 39% increase in primetime viewership. 

Track and field trials Hayward Field in Oregon also drew in 4.5 million viewers with a 38% hike. When Noah Lyles was covered, 5.7 million people tuned in to watch him. The full gymnastics coverage averaged around 2.4 million viewers across platforms.

Gymnastics drew in more viewers than swimming or track and field. Despite standout performances by Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Walsh, and Regan Smith in swimming and Sydney McLaughlin Levrone in T&F, Ledecky is a 7x Olympic gold medalist, and Dressel is also a 7x Olympic champion. Walsh and Smith set new world records in the trials as well.

The popularity of gymnastics is mainly based on frequent gymnasts like Simone Biles featured in the media, even outside of sporting events. Even Rivera made a splash as a 16-year-old who qualified for the Olympics. 

The 2024 Paris Olympics are shaping up to be a gala event

This year, the scale of the Olympics is also expected to be grand. A new track color, purple, is being debuted. It will have 32 sports categories with 329 events across the board. Around 10,500 athletes from 200 National Olympic Committees are set to participate. As well as the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. The Games will take place across 16 cities, with Paris as the main host, followed by Marseille and Lille. The Eiffel Tower has already been adorned with the Olympic rings, and the Seine is also being cleared. 

The USA is sending athletes across several events. The most popular is the gymnastics event, which will feature Simone Biles for the first time since 2021 when she withdrew because of a twisty scare that left her unable to complete her twists. The trial events started back in February, with Marathon being one of the first. The wrestling trials followed in April; swimming and diving in June; and track and field; and gymnastics in July.

In the Tokyo Games last time, the USA won 113 total medals. Among these, 39 were gold, 41 were silver, and 33 were bronze. It was the second-highest gold count since the 2016 Rio Olympics, where the USA won 46 gold medals. This year, the American gymnasts will only try to do better.