Seven-time Olympic medallist Simone Biles is now just four routines away from a history-making ninth U.S. all-around crown, after soaring to the day one lead Friday (31 May) at the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Ft.
Reigning Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee competed on all four events for the first time in elite gymnastics since capturing gold at Tokyo 2020. She sits in fourth place, having earned a 55.750 total in the all-around.
Earlier in the day, two-time world all-around medallist Shilese Jones withdrew from the event with a shoulder injury.
Biles, 27, already owns the most U.S. crowns in history with eight total (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023). Friday night was the first time she had broken the 60.000 mark since the 2021 U.S. Olympic trials.
She broke the 60. That was a goal of hers," Biles' coach Cecile Landi said afterward. "Very happy with her routines, [her] attitude. Everything looked really good."
Starting on the vault, she wasted no time, coming out in the first rotation with a 15.800 score - the highest on any apparatus - for her booming Yurchenko double pike.