Gymnastics: On Saturday, August 5, Olympic all-around champions Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee will return to elite gymnastics competition.
Seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles and incumbent Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee are scheduled to compete in the 2023 U.S. Classic in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, on Saturday, August 5.
Biles, who has not competed since earning team silver and balance beam bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, will be the center of attention. Biles withdrew from several individual finals to prioritize her mental health as she dealt with a bout of the ‘twisties,’ a gymnastics phenomenon in which the body and mind become disoriented.
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The 26-year-old, who wed earlier this year, has said little about her return, tweeting only a few lines in early July.
“I apologize for my absence since the announcement,” Biles wrote on Twitter on July 5. “I’m blown away by all of your messages, support, and affection! I am eager to return to the competition arena. XOXO ????????”
The most recent U.S. national team camp, however, revealed that the Olympic all-around champion from Rio de Janeiro in 2016 appears to be in excellent condition. According to camp results, she performed her signature Yurchenko double pike vault en route to an all-around score of 57.65, three points higher than the next closest gymnast.
Biles has not specified whether or not she intends to compete in all four events at the Classic; however, she will need to compete in at least three if she wishes to advance to the U.S. Championships, 24-27 August in San Jose, California.
Lee’s 20-year-old NCAA season was cut short in 2023 due to a kidney-related health concern that continues to hinder her training consistency.
She last competed in late February as a sophomore at Auburn University, but the Classic will be her first elite gymnastics competition since earning gold in the all-around, silver on the team, and bronze on the uneven bars at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
U.S. Classic 2023 – Chicago, Illinois – Others to observe
While Biles and Lee may garner the most attention, the U.S. Classic will feature an abundance of other talent, including Olympic floor exercise champion Jade Carey and team silver medalist Jordan Chiles.
Skye Blakely, Leanne Wong, and Lexi Zeiss, all members of the 2022 World Team, are also competing.
Kayla DiCello, bronze medalist in the all-around at the 2021 World Championships and an Olympic alternate for the United States, is also competing.
World Cup gold medalist Joscelyn Roberson and 2023 Pan American Championships all-around gold medalist Tiana Sumanasekera are also athletes to monitor.
Melanie de Jesus dos Santos, an Olympian from France, will also attend the ceremony as a guest.
2023 U.S. Classic – Chicago, Illinois – Schedule
Friday, 4 August
2-4:30pm – Hopes Championships
7-10pm – Jr. women’s competition
Saturday, 5 August
1-3pm – Sr. women’s competition, session 1
7-9pm – Sr. women’s competition, session 2
Sunday, 6 August
10:45am-1:30pm – Jr. men’s competition; Sr. men’s competition, session 1
4:45-7:30pm – Sr. men’s competition, session 2
U.S. Classic 2023 – Chicago, Illinois – How to observe live
CNBC will present live coverage of both senior women’s sessions in the United States on Saturday, August 5 at 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. local time. Peacock will simultaneously broadcast the competitions.
NBC will air coverage at 3:30 p.m. Central time on Sunday, August 6th.
On its YouTube channel, USA Gymnastics will broadcast non-televised sessions and podium training sessions. Below is the schedule, with all dates displayed in local time.
Thursday, 3 August
12-4:30pm – Men’s podium training (USA Gymnastics YouTube)
5-7:30pm – Jr. women’s podium training (USA Gymnastics YouTube)
Friday, 4 August
8-11:30am – Sr. women’s podium training (USA Gymnastics YouTube)
2-4:30pm – Hopes Championships (FlipNow.tv pay-per-view)
7-10pm – Jr. women’s competition (USA Gymnastics YouTube)
Saturday, 5 August
1-3pm – Sr. women’s competition, session 1 (Peacock)
5-7:30 – Sr. women’s competition, session 2 (Peacock)
Sunday, 6 August
10:45am-1:30pm – Jr. men’s competition; Sr. men’s competition, session 1 (USA Gymnastics YouTube)
4:45-7:30pm – Sr. men’s competition, session 2 (USA Gymnastics YouTube)
