Gymnastics- Biles wins US trials to qualify for third Olympics

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles won the all-around title at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Minneapolis on Sunday, making her third consecutive Olympic Games.

After taking the lead on Friday, Biles blew away the rest of the field with a two-day all-around total of 117.225 points, more than five points ahead of the rest of the field.

Biles withdrew from several events at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics due to “torsion,” a temporary loss of spatial awareness in mid-air. In Paris, Biles will compete alongside Sunitha Lee, Hezley Rivera, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles.

“I knew I wasn’t done after the Tokyo show,” Biles, 27, told NBC.

“I just need to get back in the gym, train hard and trust the process, and I know I’ll be back.”

Biles, who returned to competition last August after a two-year break, showed she still has some issues to work out, losing her balance on the balance beam and jumping off it, while also pushing a little too hard on the Yurchenko double vault.

However, she ended the night on a high note, earning a 14.275 from the judges for her floor exercise and a standing ovation from the Target Center crowd.

Defending Olympic champion Lee Chong Wei, 21, finished second with a total score of 111.675 points, while 2020 Olympic team silver medalist Chiles finished third (111.425 points).

Lee, who said she suffered from two kidney diseases, was moved to tears after being offered a spot on the U.S. team.

“Every day I’m reminded of my goals and surrounded by people who never give up,” Lee told NBC.

“I’m so grateful because a year ago I didn’t even think about this… Yeah, I didn’t think this was possible.”