Simone Biles is aiming to make history once again in her Olympic gymnastics career as she competes for the all-around title at the Paris Games on Thursday. The athletics programme in Paris continues with 16 gold medals up for grabs on the sixth day of competition, despite storm warnings in the area.
Biles is looking to become the first woman to regain the Olympic all-around title after withdrawing from the competition in Tokyo due to the “Twisties”. She recently won team gold, her eighth Olympic medal, and is now the most decorated US Olympic gymnast. The reigning world champion is showcasing a new skill on uneven bars that would be named after her, continuing to push the boundaries of the sport.
However, Biles faces tough competition from teammate Sunisa Lee, the reigning Olympic all-around champion who has been on a compelling comeback journey after health issues in early 2023. Another strong contender is Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who admires Biles and sees her as a role model for athletes around the world.
The athletics programme kicks off with the men’s and women’s 20km walk races, while the swimming events include the women’s 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke finals. Other gold medals are up for grabs in various sports such as kayak canoeing, fencing, judo, rowing, sailing, and shooting.
Golf also begins with top players like Collin Morikawa and Scottie Scheffler competing. The variable Paris weather may impact the events, as storm warnings are in place with heavy rain, hail, and strong winds forecast. Archery had to be postponed due to the storms on Wednesday.
