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Simone Biles smiles in Olympics dressing room

Simone Biles' family explain shock absence from the Olympics opening ceremony

Team U.S.A has an incredible 592 athletes participating in the Olympics

Bryony Gooch
US Writer
July 27, 2024
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Simone Biles may have surprised fans as she was nowhere to be seen at the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics on July 26, 2024. As Team U.S.A floated down the Seine on a large boat, the champion gymnast was notably missing from the 592-athlete strong cohort.

Coco Gauff and Lebron James from the USA as flag bearers for their team© picture alliance
Coco Gauff and Lebron James from the USA as flag bearers for their team

But according to Simone's parents Ronald and Nellie, there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for her absence - as the 27-year-old is set to compete this very weekend.

Adria, on the left, with bride Simone and their parents© @adria_biles Instagram
Adria, on the left, with bride Simone and their parents

"The first competition is this Sunday," Nellie shared to NBC News' Hoda Kotb and Snoop Dogg, "which is the Women's Qualifier. And, of course, she needs to rest up before that competition."

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Per professional advice, Simone and her fellow gymnasts - Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, skipped the Opening Ceremony due to the sheer length of the event.

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As the national teams traveled down the Parisian river in boats in the pouring rain, it certainly wouldn't have been ideal for the gymnastics team to catch a cold this close to competing!

Simone Biles celebrates as she is announced as a member of the Olympic Team on Day Four of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on June 30, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. © Elsa
Simone Biles celebrates as she is announced as a member of the Olympic Team on Day Four of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on June 30, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Especially as this is Simone's first Olympics after she was forced to exit the Tokyo Olympics early because she had the 'twisties'. While in the trials for the competition in 2021, she fell off the beam, flew out of bounds twice on the floor, and failed to stick her landing on the vault. She attributed this to a temporary loss of air awareness while performing twisting elements - hence the name 'twisties'.

Other athletes have called this phenomenon the 'yips' - where experienced athletes are suddenly unable to execute certain skills with no explanation. Simone partially explained that her 'twisties' were due to her own mental health suffering at the time, which led to her bowing out early.

simone biles and husband jonathan owens in hawaii© Instagram
simone biles and husband jonathan owens

But the champion gymnast is back on Team U.S.A with an insurmountable amount of support, as 17 of her family members will be cheering her on as she competes at the Games. Even her husband, Chicago Bears player Jonathan Owens, will be able to watch her after he got permission to miss practice.

His coach explained: "He's just supporting the one he loves the most. And I think that's so cool that he gets to do that. We welcome that and it's going to be awesome. Go U.S.A."

Jonathan said of the special occasion: "I can’t wait to be able to support her," adding: "How did I get so lucky? That this is my wife and I get to see someone that's literally at the pinnacle at her sport and I get to call this my wife. It's amazing. There's no words to really describe, just blessed."

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