It is undeniable that gymnastics is one of the most popular sports in the Summer Olympics. NBC’s TV ratings have been proven to peak when women take to the mats, especially in the recently completed 2024 Paris games. Traffic on betting sites like 1Win Canada also peaks when gymnastics events take place.
It is pretty easy to predict what will happen in gymnastics competitions that are available on the 1Win website. Events where the top gymnast of this generation, Simone Biles, has participated are notably a lot more predictable as she is known for giving her best in every competition. Her excellence in the sport is proven by the Eleven Olympic medals she has won.
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Biles' Journey to Paris 2024
Simone Biles is back like she never left the Olympics games. The 2020 Olympics games saw Biles withdraw from most of her events due to mental health reasons. Her experience getting the twisties at the Tokyo Games in 2020 was seen all around the world and it for sure raised concerns on how her subsequent performance would look like.
The twisties are a common mental phenomenon in gymnastics that causes athletes to become disoriented in the air. Biles was able to perform 1 ½ out of the 2 ½ she was supposed to perform because she got lost in the air. She was only able to secure a team silver and beam bronze in the 2020 Olympics and had to take a break from the competition for two years. She returned to training in September 2022.
She focused on her mental health during her two year break from gymnastics. She gave a lot more focus to her personal life and it was evident that she was working on herself. She married NFL player Jonathan Owens during the time of her break and also became the youngest person to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Overcoming Challenges
There is no doubt that the path to the Paris Olympics was filled with its hurdles. Biles was able to navigate this period well and she returned to competitive gymnastics in 2023. There are only four American women who have been able to compete in three Olympic games, Biles joined this list by winning the all-around title at the World Championships and securing her spot in the U.S. Olympic team for 2024.
Her training leading up to the Paris games have been rigorous but one thing that’s always mind-blowing is the level of creativity she brings to the sport. Biles had 5 skills named after her up till the 2024 Olympics and it was definitely a huge surprise to fans when she submitted a skill called the Weiler-kip 1.5 to be shown on stage at the Olympics.
The excitement of gymnastics fans and sports bettors knew no bounds hearing of Simone Biles 2024 Olympics return. Canadian bettors placed high stakes on Biles on 1Win Canada as a favorite for gold and fans were more than eager to witness her performance after seeing clips of her training routine that showed her exceptional talent and preparation
Historic Achievement at Paris 2024
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Event | Medal | Total Score | Outstanding Skill |
---|---|---|---|
Team Final | Gold | 171.296 | Vault (14.900) |
Individual All-Around | Gold | 59.131 | Vault (15.766) |
Vault Final | Gold | 15.300 | Biles II (Yurchenko double pike), Cheng |
Floor Exercise Final | Silver | 14.1333 | Biles II (triple-double) |
With high expectations for her return to the sport after her mental health break, Biles did not disappoint viewers at home nor bettors on 1Win. She raised her medal count to eleven from seven in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
One question you might be itching to ask was if Simone Biles was able to perform the Weiler Kip with a one-and-a-half pirouette at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Well, she did and it was beautiful. The execution of this phenomenal move took place at the team final on July 27, 2024. This is the sixth gymnastic skill named after her. All the skills Biles has named after her are:
Apparatus | Skill | Description |
---|---|---|
Vault | The Biles | A roundoff, back handspring with a half-turn entry, followed by a front stretched somersault with two twists. |
Vault | The Biles II | A Yurchenko-style vault with two flips in a pike position. |
Balance Beam | The Biles | A double-twisting double-tucked salto backwards dismount. |
Floor Exercise | The Biles | A double layout half-out. |
Floor Exercise | The Biles II | A triple-twisting double-tucked salto backwards. |
Uneven Bars | The Weiler Kip with a one-and-a-half pirouette | A move where the gymnast swings forward and around the bar, completing a 540-degree turn before rising up to a handstand. |
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Asides getting medals and having skills named after her, the athlete broke several records an was even a fan favorite on 1Win bet:
● She became the first American athlete in the male or female category to win two gold medals in the individual All-Around event.
● With eleven medals, she holds the record as the most awarded American gymnast in the Olympics with eleven medals. This record surpasses the previous record held by Shannon Miller who held the record for 28 years with seven Olympics medals,
● Became the second most decorated female gymnast at the Olympics.
Biles’ Impact Beyond the Gym
It is undeniable that Biles is an outstanding athlete making history with her skill. We have discussed her impact in the gymnastic field and how she is constantly breaking records but one thing remains uncovered, her impact beyond the gymnastics mat. She boldly broke down the stigma surrounding mental well-being
Most athletes shy away from discussion surrounding mental health but Biles on the other hand openly discussed her struggles with “twisties.” She showed everyone why it is important to prioritize one’s mental health above competition by taking a mental health break from the competition. She has fans that are very supportive and ready to 1Win login and place bets on her as a fan favorite.
Helping the Younger Generation
Although she makes Olympic-level gymnastics look easy, her life was anything but simple as a child. Her biological mother struggled with substance abuse which resulted in her being taken into foster care for three years before getting adopted by her grandparents. She has turned her experience at foster care into motivation to become an advocate for Friends of the Children - Houston, an organization that provides long-term mentorship to children with the aim of breaking the cycle of poverty.
She promotes the work of the foundation by using her platform to raise awareness going as far as dedicating her second Wheaties box appearance to Friends of the Children. The organisation also showed support by organising a local youth version of the Olympic games where local youth and their families participated in obstacle courses and small competitions.
Empowerment of Female Athletes
Simone Biles Olympics influence also extends to the empowerment of female athletes particularly those that are from marginalized backgrounds. She has openly spoken about many event including her vulnerability during the 2020 Olympics and before that, in 2018, Biles and her teammates addressed and testified against the sexual abuse they faced by USA Gymnastics team doctor, Larru Nassar.
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Biles shared her story during the height of the #MeToo movement and has since then received full support from her fellow teammates and many of her fans. Sharing her experience was a bold move that inspired other female athletes to do the same.
Conclusion
Simone Biles’ journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics is more than just about winning medals. Her amazing performances, new records, and bravery in speaking about mental health have inspired people everywhere. She has shown the world what it means to be strong, creative, and fearless, leaving a lasting impact on gymnastics and beyond.
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