Simone Biles is halfway to winning a record ninth U.S. all-around championship ahead of the Paris Olympics.
On the first of two days of competition at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Biles distanced herself from the rest of the field, retaining a 3.4-point lead over her closest competitor with a 60.450 in the all-around.
The 37-time world and Olympic medalist started her night on the vault, where she performed her eponymous skill — a Yurchenko double pike — and earned a 15.800, the highest score of the night in any event. She maintained her lead on the uneven bars and the balance beam, scoring a 14.650 and 14.800, respectively.
Biles ended on the floor exercise, where she is the reigning world champion. Her routine for the 2024 season features music by Taylor Swift and reintroduces another “Biles” skill, a triple-twisting double flip she debuted in the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
She broke the 60s and that was a goal of hers,” Biles’ coach Cecile Landi said after the meet. “Very happy with her routines, her attitude, everything looked really good.
Lee, the reigning Olympic all-around champion, competed in all four events for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics. After battling kidney issues for much of last season, Lee finished fourth in the all-around and made a compelling case for the Paris team.