Simone Biles Embarks on Olympic Dream with Remarkable Start, Toasting Victory with Non-Alcoholic Champagne

Simone Biles commemorated her comeback to gymnastic competition in a stylish manner - complete with mocktails - as she heads towards the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Starting on Thursday, August 3, the 26-year-old gymnast shared her "journey to Paris" on her Instagram Story. Biles initiated her Olympic gold medal-winning voyage with a private jet ride and a bouquet of flowers, presumably from her husband Jonathan Owens, a 28-year-old player for the Green Bay Packers. (Biles and Owens exchanged vows in April.)

Biles arrived in Illinois for the Core Hydration Classic, also known as the U.S. Classic, where she joined former Team U.S.A. member Jordan Chiles for a beverage. In an Instagram Story video, Biles exclaimed "Cheers!" alongside Chiles. Biles further mentioned that the champagne being consumed was "nonalcoholic" as both athletes are currently in training for the upcoming Olympics.

Biles made her return to competition on Friday, August 4, following her withdrawal from the team event at the Tokyo Games in July 2021. On arrival, a sign at Now Arena greeted her with the words, "Welcome to Now Arena. The Journey to Paris 2024 Starts Here," alongside a backdrop of red, white, and blue balloons. Biles also shared on her Instagram Story that a large Eiffel Tower cutout was included as part of the warm welcome.

Courtesy of Simone Biles/Instagram

The topic of Biles' future as a gymnast has garnered significant attention following her decision to withdraw from multiple events in Tokyo in 2021. Her withdrawal was a result of experiencing "the twisties," a phenomenon where athletes lose control over their bodies while executing aerial spins.

In 2021, Biles clarified on Instagram that her decision to withdraw from multiple events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was not due to a bad performance or quitting. She acknowledged having experienced bad performances in her career but always continued to compete. However, during the Olympics, she felt so lost during her routine that her safety, as well as the team's chances of winning a medal, were compromised. As a result, she chose not to participate in the final team event and withdrew from the individual all-around, floor exercise, vault, and uneven bars finals.

In the balance beam final, she secured the bronze medal, while her teammates Chiles, Suni Lee, and Grace McCallum won silver in the team all-around in her absence. Lee, 20, demonstrated impressive skills by winning gold in the individual all-around and bronze in the uneven bars. Jade Carey earned the gold for her floor exercise, and MyKayla Skinner took home the silver for the vault. Despite her disappointing performance in Tokyo, Biles hinted the following year that she wasn't ready to permanently retire from gymnastics.

Courtesy of Simone Biles/Instagram

Simone Biles stated in a March 2022 interview with USA Today that she believed she reached her peak during the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics. At the age of 19 in 2016, she thought she had achieved her best performance. Upon returning to the sport, she initially doubted that she could surpass her previous achievements due to someone telling her that was her absolute best potential.

Biles expressed that she had no regrets after her break following the 2021 events, but she hinted at her continued commitment by stating that she was not prepared to retire from her gymnastics career.

Her motivation to return for the 2020 events stemmed from her desire to fully explore her capabilities and showcase her talent. Biles explained that she wanted to avoid any future regrets by pushing herself to her full potential. Reflecting on her decision, she confidently stated that she now truly has no regrets, although she may still strive to push herself further in the future.

Last month, Biles made it clear that she was not done with her time on the mat and would be participating in the U.S. Classic on Saturday.

"I apologize for my absence since the announcement," she tweeted in July. "I am grateful for all of your messages, support, and love! I am thrilled to return to the competition floor! XOXO."

Biles is currently tied with Shannon Miller as the American gymnast with the highest number of Olympic medals. Apart from the bronze and silver medals she won in the Tokyo Games, Biles also secured four gold medals and one bronze during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. With her 25 World Championship medals, Biles holds the record for being the most accomplished gymnast in the history of the Gymnastics World Championships.