Simone Biles, Suni Lee, And Other Stars Missing From U.S. Classic Lineup
The U.S. Classic returns to Hoffman Estates, Illinois, on July 18–19, but for the first time since 2022, the winner is guaranteed to be an athlete other than Simone Biles.
Biles won the title in 2024, followed by five-time World medalist Shilese Jones and eventual two-time Olympic teammate Jordan Chiles in third. Biles has won the crown seven times in her storied career.
In fact, not one of 2024's podium finishers will compete this weekend.
Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles has not yet indicated intent to return to gymnastics. Instead, the sport's most decorated athlete just returned home from a victorious ESPY Awards, where she won the awards for Best Female Athlete and Best Championship Performance. 'I'm really enjoying my time off before I decide (on competing),' Biles told Olympics.com in April.
Shilese Jones was almost guaranteed a bid for the 2024 Olympic team but ultimately lost her spot due to an untimely injury at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Instead, the former World all-around silver and bronze medalist will appear at this weekend's event as a coach, helping guide younger athletes at the Hopes Championships.
The 22-year-old has appeared at a pair of U.S. National Team camps this year, but has not shown full routines or outlined a return.
Jordan Chiles wrapped a spectacular season with the UCLA Bruins in April. The then-junior led the team to a Big Ten Championship and National Runner-Up title, picking up an individual win on the uneven bars. Though Chiles has shown impressive training footage, the 24-year-old has not yet expressed her intent to return to the elite ranks and remains focused on her incoming senior year with the Bruins.
Two-time Olympic Champions Suni Lee and Jade Carey also remain undecided on their returns to the competitive stage. Lee claimed hardware alongside Biles at last week's ESPYS, winning the award for Best Comeback Athlete. The Minnesota native has made numerous promotional appearances at sporting events nationwide.
Jade Carey wrapped a near-perfect career with the Oregon State Beavers in April and appears to be still training. However, like Chiles, the Olympic and World Champion has not shown full routines or expressed a clear intent to return.
Though she fell short of the Olympic team due to another untimely Achilles tear, two-time World team champion Skye Blakely is set to make her elite return at August's U.S. Championships in New Orleans. Tiana Sumanasekera, one of the 2024 Olympic alternates, will also return to the stage in August, opting to skip the U.S. Classic to nurse a nagging ankle injury.
Who's Competing In Chicago
As a result, the only member of the gold medal-winning team to compete this weekend is the youngest athlete from the 2024 U.S. Olympic delegation, 17-year-old Hezly Rivera. Rivera headlines a young and relatively inexperienced competitive field that will star 2024 Olympic alternates Leanne Wong and Joscelyn Roberson.
Wong, a World all-around silver medalist, won the title in 2022 and is expected to contend for her second win this weekend.
As one of the few premier meets of the U.S. elite gymnastics season, the U.S. Classic has long been a key meet for athletes to test their readiness and build experience heading into August's Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The 'Classic' also serves as the final qualifier for athletes seeking berths to the championships.
Click here to find out how to watch the event.
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