Simone Biles landed a Yurchenko double pike vault on Friday and leaped to first place in the all-around standings after the opening day of women’s action at the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials in Minneapolis.
However, the overall health of the U.S. women’s gymnastics roster became the bigger story on Friday.
Biles, the 2016 Olympic all-around champion, posted an all-around score of 58.900. The next two places are occupied by Jordan Chiles at 56.400 and Suni Lee, the 2020 Olympic all-around champion, at 56.025.
The winner is guaranteed a spot on the U.S. squad for the Paris Games next month, while the other positions on the team will be decided by USA Gymnastics.
Biles scored 15.975 on the vault, met with roaring applause from the crowd on hand and gleeful high-fives with coach Laurent Landi. She also delivered a flawless floor routine, opening to Taylor Swift’s “Are You Ready For It?”
Before getting to the finals, there are major questions about the health of the team.
Skye Blakely was recognized during the event on Friday, but she was on crutches after suffering a ruptured right Achilles this week in training.
Blakely was on a path toward Paris, but she isn’t the only candidate whose participation is in danger because of injury.
USA Gymnastics confirmed Friday that Kayla DiCello “being evaluated by the medical team” after sustaining an injury on the vault. She was taken from the floor in a wheelchair not long after Shilese Jones sustained a knee injury.
Jones entered with concern about her shoulder injury that forced her to withdraw from the U.S. gymnastics championships.
–Field Level Media