Simone Biles

[Anonymous]

Even though I sort of miss the more artistic and ballet oriented routines of the past (Romanian/Russian style), I like every single thing about Simone. Her personality, incredible talent, life story/family, always pure grace under pressure. She's a star like no other.

[Anonymous]

I haven't watched gymnastics in years and so was momentarily surprised by seeing Simone so grown up. I love how these gymnasts are mature now. I always worried those really young girls of the previous era were going to suffer long-term damage to their bodies. Can anyone with expertise weigh in on that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am oddly into the Olympics this year. Perhaps it’s because the previous Olympics were during Covid. To the OP, did you watch the Simone Biles documentary on Netflix (2 part series)? It was good.

I have not watched the show yet - its on my list!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even though I sort of miss the more artistic and ballet oriented routines of the past (Romanian/Russian style), I like every single thing about Simone. Her personality, incredible talent, life story/family, always pure grace under pressure. She's a star like no other.

I used to feel this way, but those girls suffered so much physical and emotional abuse and look so frightened and malnourished compared to gymnasts of today. I love that this generation of gymnasts look like athletes and are no longer considered over the hill at 19.

[Anonymous]

Happy for her! Good for her for coming back, facing the criticism and having a great outcome!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know suni lee got all around gold in Tokyo and bikes dropped out? Wouldn’t know it from the ads or coverage.

Yeah, but Simone's scores and difficulty are always above Suni. Suni never beats Simone. Unless something goes wrong and Simone drops out or makes a huge mistake, Suni is competing for the Silver or Bronze in AA. She just doesn't have the difficulty level.

Suni did beat Simone on Day 2 of the trials in 2021 leading into the Olympics.

[Anonymous]

She's great, but she's also such a drama queen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though I sort of miss the more artistic and ballet oriented routines of the past (Romanian/Russian style), I like every single thing about Simone. Her personality, incredible talent, life story/family, always pure grace under pressure. She's a star like no other.

I used to feel this way, but those girls suffered so much physical and emotional abuse and look so frightened and malnourished compared to gymnasts of today. I love that this generation of gymnasts look like athletes and are no longer considered over the hill at 19.

+1 and not just in the US -- it's a global shift.

Also love seeing all the women on the team this year who are current NCAA athletes at universities. It's great for the sport. The the previous era going to college effectively ended your Olympic and Team USA career and competing in the NCAA was seen as a step down. But now there is more mixing and as the average age of Olympic and Worlds gymnasts inch up you're going to see more of this. It makes gymnastics more like swimming or track and field and I feel it professionalizes the sport more. It acknowledges that gymnasts are competitive athletes not little dolls and they can evolve as people while ALSO continuing to train and compete just like you see in many other sports where most athletes are adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know suni lee got all around gold in Tokyo and bikes dropped out? Wouldn’t know it from the ads or coverage.

She's also been focused on her health and not on her publicity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's great, but she's also such a drama queen.

How so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though I sort of miss the more artistic and ballet oriented routines of the past (Romanian/Russian style), I like every single thing about Simone. Her personality, incredible talent, life story/family, always pure grace under pressure. She's a star like no other.

I used to feel this way, but those girls suffered so much physical and emotional abuse and look so frightened and malnourished compared to gymnasts of today. I love that this generation of gymnasts look like athletes and are no longer considered over the hill at 19.

+1 and not just in the US -- it's a global shift.

Also love seeing all the women on the team this year who are current NCAA athletes at universities. It's great for the sport. The the previous era going to college effectively ended your Olympic and Team USA career and competing in the NCAA was seen as a step down. But now there is more mixing and as the average age of Olympic and Worlds gymnasts inch up you're going to see more of this. It makes gymnastics more like swimming or track and field and I feel it professionalizes the sport more. It acknowledges that gymnasts are competitive athletes not little dolls and they can evolve as people while ALSO continuing to train and compete just like you see in many other sports where most athletes are adults.

All of them except China.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though I sort of miss the more artistic and ballet oriented routines of the past (Romanian/Russian style), I like every single thing about Simone. Her personality, incredible talent, life story/family, always pure grace under pressure. She's a star like no other.

I used to feel this way, but those girls suffered so much physical and emotional abuse and look so frightened and malnourished compared to gymnasts of today. I love that this generation of gymnasts look like athletes and are no longer considered over the hill at 19.

I am with you. I will say that as someone who trained as a dancer I do miss the greater emphasis on dance training. You see it most on floor where today's gymnasts (including Biles who I do really love) just kind of go through the motions of their non-tumbling choreography and there is very little musicality. You see it also on beam with the fluidity of movement -- you used to really be able to tell which gymnasts had substantial classical ballet training and it really changed how they moved and carried themselves in I believe a good way.

I almost feel like if the dance element is not going to be focused on then they should switch to how the men do it -- no music and it's just tumbling elements with no dance. As a dancer I just don't love watching these women intersperse these amazing tumbling passes with sort of half-hearted and lackluster dance sequences. There's just no point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's great, but she's also such a drama queen.

She brilliant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though I sort of miss the more artistic and ballet oriented routines of the past (Romanian/Russian style), I like every single thing about Simone. Her personality, incredible talent, life story/family, always pure grace under pressure. She's a star like no other.

I used to feel this way, but those girls suffered so much physical and emotional abuse and look so frightened and malnourished compared to gymnasts of today. I love that this generation of gymnasts look like athletes and are no longer considered over the hill at 19.

+1 and not just in the US -- it's a global shift.

Also love seeing all the women on the team this year who are current NCAA athletes at universities. It's great for the sport. The the previous era going to college effectively ended your Olympic and Team USA career and competing in the NCAA was seen as a step down. But now there is more mixing and as the average age of Olympic and Worlds gymnasts inch up you're going to see more of this. It makes gymnastics more like swimming or track and field and I feel it professionalizes the sport more. It acknowledges that gymnasts are competitive athletes not little dolls and they can evolve as people while ALSO continuing to train and compete just like you see in many other sports where most athletes are adults.

The mixing of NCAA and Olympic gymnastics is heavily because of the changes to NIL rules. Suni, Jordan, and Jade are part of the first group that was able to both receive endorsements from their Olympic fame and participate in NCAA gymnastics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though I sort of miss the more artistic and ballet oriented routines of the past (Romanian/Russian style), I like every single thing about Simone. Her personality, incredible talent, life story/family, always pure grace under pressure. She's a star like no other.

I used to feel this way, but those girls suffered so much physical and emotional abuse and look so frightened and malnourished compared to gymnasts of today. I love that this generation of gymnasts look like athletes and are no longer considered over the hill at 19.

+1 and not just in the US -- it's a global shift.

Also love seeing all the women on the team this year who are current NCAA athletes at universities. It's great for the sport. The the previous era going to college effectively ended your Olympic and Team USA career and competing in the NCAA was seen as a step down. But now there is more mixing and as the average age of Olympic and Worlds gymnasts inch up you're going to see more of this. It makes gymnastics more like swimming or track and field and I feel it professionalizes the sport more. It acknowledges that gymnasts are competitive athletes not little dolls and they can evolve as people while ALSO continuing to train and compete just like you see in many other sports where most athletes are adults.

Great points here (I was the PP). Thanks for the reminder of the history - I wasn't thinking obvi - totally agree with you both and still love Simone and Team USA!