Team USA gymnast Simone Biles aggravated a lower left leg injury Sunday while warming up for her floor exercise during Team USA’s second rotation.
Biles could be heard saying it hurts to push off and left the arena floor at one point, but stayed in the competition with a heavily taped calf. But she clearly struggled. She had a significant misstep on her floor routine, then needed a big step backward to land her signature Yurchenko double pike on the vault.
Cecile Landi, her coach, told reporters that Biles has been dealing with calf pain for a couple weeks before Paris, and that it flared up again during Sunday’s competition.
Still, she exited the qualification round with a huge lead in the all-around standings.
When asked by reporters if she was OK following competition on Sunday, Biles said, “Yup! As good as I can be.” She didn’t elaborate and Landi said there are no concerns about her ability to compete throughout the Olympics.
Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Hezly Rivera are part of the team that won a silver medal in the 2021 Tokyo Games. Biles was forced to withdraw from that competition after suffering from a neurological condition known as “the twisties.” The twisties are a mental block that creates a disconnect between mind and body while gymnasts are airborne.
The top eight teams from qualifying advance to the team final on Tuesday. The top 24 individuals in the all-around will make the finals on Thursday.