As Simone Biles Returns to the Olympics with Her Eyes on Redemption, Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Her Career (Video)

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Simone Biles is back and ready for an attempt at redemption in Paris.

Biles, already the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history, will compete in her third Olympic Games this summer in France. The four-time gold medalist and 23-time world champion will undoubtedly be one of the most popular athletes at this year’s Games, especially after her struggles in Tokyo three years ago.

Biles, now 27, has a chance to cement her legacy in what could be her final Olympics. But before that happens, let’s take a look back at her past Olympic achievements.

Biles was too young to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, so she had to wait until Brazil four years later. By the time she competed at those Games, Biles had already won two gold medals at the Antwerp Championships and eight gold medals at the world championships. In Rio, she completely dominated, helping Team USA to an all-around gold. That, of course, helped launch her historic gymnastics career and put her among the most famous American Olympians of all time.

Biles won the individual All-Around title, taking gold on the vault and floor exercise. She also won the bronze medal on the balance beam. That haul made Biles — then just 19 — one of four female gymnasts to win four gold medals in a single Games.

Although Biles continued to dominate in the years following her Olympic participation, winning numerous medals and titles, her performance in Tokyo did not go as expected.

Biles struggled at the Japan Games and then stunned everyone when she withdrew from the team competition and the all-around final because of the “turns.” She later said she “had no idea where she was in the air,” making it incredibly dangerous even for someone as talented as Biles.

Biles eventually returned to win the bronze medal on the balance beam. Team USA also won a team silver medal, in what was a largely disappointing outing in the COVID-19-postponed Games. That has stuck with Biles and the rest of the team ever since.

“We all have more to offer,” Biles said Thursday, via The Washington Post. “And our performance in Tokyo wasn’t the best. We weren’t in the best circumstances. But I feel like we have a big burden on our shoulders to go there and prove that we’re better athletes.”

Although Tokyo was a disappointment, Biles seems to be back to his old self in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Paris.

Biles led Team USA to the team title at the World Gymnastics Championships last fall, which helped her win The Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year award. She also won a record nine all-around titles at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships earlier this year, where she won gold on all four apparatus and was nearly perfect throughout the competition. She is the first gymnast, male or female, to win nine all-around national titles. Biles is also the oldest person to win that championship.

Biles will start in the qualifying matches on Sunday, July 28.

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