U.S. may send ‘Dream Team’ to Paris Games
February 5, 2024 – 11:43 AM PST
KATY, Texas (Reuters) – The competition to make the U.S. gymnastics team for the Paris Games is fiercer than ever, and the athletes vying for a spot believe that the selected squad could be the most successful in Olympic history, according to statements made this week.
All-around Olympic champions Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sunisa Lee, along with rising stars Joscelyn Roberson and Tiana Sumanasekera, are among those hoping to secure a spot on the five-member team. The final team will be announced at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Minneapolis in late June.
“This will be one of the best teams the United States has ever had and one of the best teams that the world has ever seen,” said Roberson, who will be celebrating her 18th birthday later this week, at a media event near Houston on Sunday.
“The United States could make three teams and they would all be amazing. The depth this year is insane and unlike any other.”
The squad brings to mind the legendary “Dream Team” – the 1992 U.S. men’s basketball team that included icons like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.
Leading the charge for the U.S. is Biles, the four-time Olympic gold medalist who has become a transcendent figure in the sport.
After facing challenges at the Tokyo Games due to “the twisties,” a mental block experienced by gymnasts mid-air, Biles is determined to reclaim her dominance in the sport.
Following a two-year break, Biles returned to competition last August at the U.S. Classic, proving that she remains the sport’s unstoppable force. She went on to win a record eighth all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships weeks later.
At last year’s world championships in Belgium, she secured four gold medals, including a record-tying sixth all-around crown.
“She’s an icon, a legend, a GOAT for sure,” said Jordan Chiles, who stepped in for Biles in Tokyo and won a silver medal in the team event.
“She’s the Michael Jordan of gymnastics, she’s what Serena Williams is to tennis. She has changed the culture of this sport.”
Despite the intense pressure of trying to make the team, 16-year-old Sumanasekera emphasized the camaraderie and enjoyment shared among the athletes during their training.
“It’s extremely fun,” she said.
“We’re a very silly group of girls. We love to crack jokes with each other, and Simone and Zoe (Miller) are the funniest duo ever.
“Whenever we are having a hard day, they are there to crack a joke and make us laugh, even if I am crying.
“It’s just amazing to have teammates that we’re so fond of and so similar to. Being in that environment is something I’m always looking forward to.”
Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles, editing by Pritha Sarkar
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Which athletes are vying for a spot on the U.S. gymnastics team for the Paris Games?
KATY, Texas (Reuters) – The competition to make the U.S. gymnastics team for the Paris Games is fiercer than ever, and the athletes vying for a spot believe that the selected squad could be the most successful in Olympic history, according to statements made this week.
All-around Olympic champions Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sunisa Lee, along with rising stars Joscelyn Roberson and Tiana Sumanasekera, are among those hoping to secure a spot on the five-member team. The final team will be announced at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Minneapolis in late June.
“This will be one of the best teams the United States has ever had and one of the best teams that the world has ever seen,” said Roberson, who will be celebrating her 18th birthday later this week, at a media event near Houston on Sunday.
“The United States could make three teams and they would all be amazing. The depth this year is insane and unlike any other.”
The squad brings to mind the legendary “Dream Team” – the 1992 U.S. men’s basketball team that included icons like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.
Leading the charge for the U.S. is Biles, the four-time Olympic gold medalist who has become a transcendent figure in the sport.
After facing challenges at the Tokyo Games due to “the twisties,” a mental block experienced by gymnasts mid-air, Biles is determined to reclaim her dominance in the sport.
Following a two-year break, Biles returned to competition last August at the U.S. Classic, proving that she remains the sport’s unstoppable force. She went on to win a record eighth all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships weeks later.
At last year’s world championships in Belgium, she secured four gold medals, including a record-tying sixth all-around crown.
“She’s an icon, a legend, a GOAT for sure,” said Jordan Chiles, who stepped in for Biles in Tokyo and won a silver medal in the team event.
“She’s the Michael Jordan of gymnastics, she’s what Serena Williams is to tennis. She has changed the culture of this sport.”
Despite the intense pressure of trying to make the team, 16-year-old Sumanasekera emphasized the camaraderie and enjoyment shared among the athletes during their training.
“It’s extremely fun,” she said.
“We’re a very silly group of girls. We love to crack jokes with each other, and Simone and Zoe (Miller) are the funniest duo ever.
“Whenever we are having a hard day, they are there to crack a joke and make us laugh, even if I am crying.
“It’s just amazing to have teammates that we’re so fond of and so similar to. Being in that environment is truly special and motivating.”
As the U.S. gymnastics team prepares for the Paris Games, the competition to secure a spot on the team has reached new heights. Athletes like Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Joscelyn Roberson, and Tiana Sumanasekera are all vying for a spot on the five-member team. According to statements made this week, these athletes believe that the selected squad has the potential to be the most successful in Olympic history.
Joscelyn Roberson, who will be celebrating her 18th birthday later this week, stated at a recent media event near Houston that she believes this U.S. gymnastics team will be one of the best the country has ever had. She emphasized the depth of talent this year, stating that the United States could form three teams, all of which would be amazing.
The comparison to the legendary “Dream Team” of the 1992 U.S. men’s basketball team is also made, showcasing the caliber of talent and success these gymnasts hope to achieve. Leading the team is Simone Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medalist who has become a transcendent figure in the sport. Despite facing challenges at the Tokyo Games, Biles is determined to reclaim her dominance in the sport. She returned to competition last August and went on to win a record eighth all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships.
Biles’s impact on the sport cannot be understated. Jordan Chiles, who stepped in for Biles in Tokyo and won a silver medal in the team event, referred to Biles as the Michael Jordan of gymnastics and highlighted her role in changing the culture of the sport.
Despite the pressure to secure a spot on the team, Tiana Sumanasekera, a 16-year-old gymnast, emphasized the camaraderie and enjoyment shared among the athletes during their training. She described the team as a silly group of girls who love cracking jokes, with Simone Biles and Zoe Miller being noted as the funniest duo. Sumanasekera expressed gratitude for her teammates and the motivating environment they create.
As the U.S. gymnastics team aims for success in the Paris Games, the talent, determination, and camaraderie displayed by these athletes suggest that this team can indeed be one for the history books. With gymnastics fans eagerly awaiting the announcement of the final team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June, the anticipation for their performance in Paris continues to grow.
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