As I read through the stories of these three remarkable young women and their journeys to become traveling replacement gymnasts for the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, I couldn’t help but feel inspired and in awe. Each one of them has faced challenges and setbacks, yet they never gave up on their dreams.
Say bonjour to the 2024 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team heading to Paris.
I’m thrilled to share that amongst the Women’s Artistic team who graced the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, four remarkable athletes have left indelible marks on gymnastics history. Allow me to introduce you to Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Suni Lee – these names should ring a bell!
But don’t expect these Games to feel like a sequel—more of a reboot.
In her interview with Hoda Kotb on Today, published on July 1, Biles expressed, “I have this feeling of déjà vu, and at the same time, it’s like I’m on a journey to make things right. In Tokyo, we didn’t perform at our best, so we’re eager to go out there and give it our all.”
In Biles’ situation, she encountered a disruption between her body and mind, which she referred to as “the twisties,” causing her to withdraw from the competition and several other events. On the other hand, Chiles stepped in for Biles during the finale but slipped on the floor exercise. Additionally, Carey faced trouble with her footwork while racing down the runway for the vault.
So, yes, they’re ready for another chance.
“For me, this is of great significance,” Carey expressed to the media. “As people have mentioned, everyone seeks some form of redemption. Therefore, it’s truly amazing to find myself in this position today.”
Although the team earned the second place award at the Games, Lee, who had to withdraw from Auburn University team due to a kidney problem she faced afterwards, expressed her desire for the first place by saying, “We’re aiming for gold.”
An additional gymnast, Hezly Rivera, who is the youngest representative of Team USA at the 2024 Olympics, will join them in their pursuit of the goal.
She shared with TopMob News earlier this month, “I’m quite young compared to the women I’m traveling with. They have previously gone through this journey. I’m certain they will serve as excellent mentors for me. I’m looking forward to their guidance and it’s going to be an enjoyable adventure in Paris.”
The Opening Ceremony for the Games begins on July 26, allowing fans to watch it live on NBC and Peacock.
For now, keep reading to learn more about the gymnasts on this year’s U.S. Women’s Olympic Team.
Simone Biles, at 27 years old, is rightfully referred to as the greatest gymnast of all time. With a record-breaking collection of medals from both the Olympics and World Championships, her impressive career started when she was just six years old. However, her path to success hasn’t been without its challenges.
Sunisa “Suni” Lee, born in Minnesota in 2003, began her gymnastics journey at the age of six. By age 21, she became the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in the all-around competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, also taking home silver with her team and bronze in the uneven bars. Following the Games, Lee joined Auburn University’s gymnastics team but announced her last collegiate season would be her last to focus on the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, her time was cut short due to health issues related to her kidneys. In June 2024, after a successful performance at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Lee shared with TopMob News that she was recovering well and qualified for the Olympic team. Refusing to give up despite numerous challenges, Lee expressed pride in her determination to leave no regrets behind.
Named after fellow sports great Michael Jordan, Jordan Chiles entered gymnastics at age 6 and quickly advanced through the levels of competition—adding to her trophy shelf along the way.
Despite her success, the 23-year-old didn’t always feel welcomed.
“Every single time I went into a competition, I was like, ‘Well, what are they going to say this time?’” Chiles recalled to ELLE in a July 2024 interview. “I was racially attacked. I was always told, ‘You’re not the typical gymnast. You look like a man. You’re too muscular.’”
After feeling like “gymnastics didn’t want me,” Chiles continued, she considered leaving the sport. Instead, Biles invited her to train at her Texas gym in 2018.
“I wish I could take that part of my life back,” the athlete from Washington added, “but at the same time, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today if those things hadn’t happened, because they made me stronger, more confident, and helped me understand who I am as a person. But it did take me a while to get the love back. I can tell you that.”
Fast-forward a few years, they both competed at the 2020 Olympics—where Chiles filled in after Biles withdrew from the team final—and they took home the team silver.
The UCLA gymnast has also gone viral, earning a perfect 10 for her 2023 NCAA Championship performance set to 90s hip-hop and securing a spot at the 2024 Olympics with her Beyoncé-inspired routine.
I’m Jade Carey, and I’m deeply grateful to my parents for introducing me to gymnastics since they owned a gym where I grew up. I’ve been training since 2002 and started competing at the elite level in 2017. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned during the 2020 Olympics when I struggled with my footwork on vault and finished eighth place. But instead of giving up, I turned it around and won the gold in the floor exercise event shortly after. I was proud of myself for overcoming that challenge, even though it was difficult at first. My dad’s words of encouragement helped me let go of the disappointment and make the worst day into the best day. Although I thought my Olympic journey would be over after 2020 and I’d focus on college, my experience changed my mind, and now I’m determined to achieve more at the 2024 Olympics.
Hezly Rivera is set to participate in her first Olympics at only 16 years old, making her the youngest U.S. team member for the 2024 Games.
“I was thrilled because all my hard work had finally paid off,” Rivera shared with TopMob News in July. “I heard my name called out and I was taken aback. I couldn’t believe I made the team.”
Despite being an Olympics newcomer, Rivera is no novice to gymnastics. The New Jersey native clinched the title of balance beam champion at the 2024 Winter Cup and took first place in all-around, uneven bars, and balance beam events for the junior division during the 2023 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships.
Her journey into gymnastics started more than a decade ago when she attended a birthday party at a gymnastics facility as a five-year-old. The staff there encouraged her parents to enroll her in the team, and they did.
Joscelyn Roberson, a talented 18-year-old gymnast from Texas, has earned a spot as one of two traveling replacements for the 2024 U.S. women’s Olympic team. Her excitement is palpable, as she expressed on Instagram in July: “THIS! IS! EVERYTHING!” She exclaimed, “I am going to Paris!!!” Having long nurtured her dreams since beginning training in 2009, Roberson’s career has recently gained momentum. After making her senior nationals debut in 2022 and finishing 18th in the all-around, a fortuitous turn of events brought her to World Champions Centre – the renowned gymnastics training facility under the Biles family – where she seized the opportunity to train alongside like-minded individuals. “Being surrounded by people I could connect with daily,” Roberson shared with NBC Sports in 2023, “made all the difference for me.” In competitions such as the 2023 Winter Cup and the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, she excelled, claiming first place in vault at both events.
I’m Leanne Wong, the traveling backup gymnast for the 2024 women’s Olympic team. Originally an alternate for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, I found myself quarantining after my fellow alternate Kara Eaker tested positive for COVID-19. The experience made me reflect on my goals and led me to return to elite gymnastics, participating in the 2021 World Championships where I won a silver and bronze medal. My success continued with two gold medals at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships with my team. Simultaneously, I’ve been competing with the University of Florida Gators, proudly earning the title of NCAA uneven bars champion this year.
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2024-07-21 16:17