PARIS: USA Gymnastics announced on Wednesday that Simone Biles, the renowned American gymnastics star, will be participating in the US Classic, marking her return to competitive action since the Tokyo Olympics.
Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, had withdrawn from several events during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics citing mental health and safety concerns. The upcoming competition on August 4-5 will be her first appearance since then.
"Registration...does not guarantee participation," USA Gymnastics warned in the statement.
"Every athlete is at a different place in their season and career, and we will support each of them, wherever they are in their journey," said USA Gymnastics chief programs officer Stefanie Korepin.
In 2016, Biles won four Olympic gold medals at Rio, taking the team, vault and floor exercise titles plus a balance beam bronze.
She entered the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics as a heavy favourite but struggled with a loss of air balance awareness, ending up with a team silver medal and a bronze in balance beam.
She has won 25 world championships medals, 19 of them gold, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden in 2022.
She married NFL Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens in April.
(With AFP inputs)
