Simone Biles’s triumphant return inspires young gymnasts
Her comeback in Hoffman Estates, two years since withdrawing from competitive gymnastics, made a deep impression on Chicago-area girls who packed the arena Saturday.
Simone Biles’s return to competition this weekend was not just a personal triumph for the 26-year-old. It was a moment of inspiration for young gymnasts across the Chicago area who flocked to see her.
Hundreds of preteen athletes, many of them brought by their mothers or coaches, packed NOW Arena in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates. They raised hand-painted signs spelling out their appreciation for Biles. They shrieked with each of her flips. And, after the meet, some of them said Biles had taught valuable lessons by focusing on her mental health and mustering the courage — two long years since withdrawing from most Olympic events in Tokyo — to pick up where she left off.
“I thought it was amazing how good she was,” said Mallory Czarnecki, 12, of New Lenox. “Usually, if I just take a week or two off, I feel like I’m so rusty and all my form is so bad.”
Biles, years older than all her U.S. Classic competitors, said the feeling from the 7,200 spectators helped her overcome nerves.
“Everyone’s so supportive, like in the crowd, all of the girls, all of the signs, it just makes my heart warm,” Biles said.
Biles finished first in three of the four events, topping other Olympic and world medalists in the competition. On the vault, she landed the breathtaking Yurchenko double pike — two full rotations with straight legs — a skill that she first pulled off before judges in 2021. No other woman has done it in competition.
‘“You don’t want to have too much pressure or else you can get hurt because you’re overthinking and, if you keep going, then you could get hurt if you’re not ready for it and confident enough,” Carolina said. “I think you should be 100% confident before you go out and do something.”
Charlie Lubbers, a 12-year-old from Homer Glen, said her group was seated 14 rows from the floor and had a great view of the balance beam. She said her “heart stopped” when Biles waved at them.
“It was like, ‘Wait, did Simone Biles just really wave at us? Was that a mistake?’ ”
Charlie said Biles is especially important to her because they’re both Black gymnasts.
“Some people say, like, ‘Okay, so you’re this skin color. So … you’re not allowed to do what we do, because you’re African American,’ ” Charlie said. “And they probably think we can’t do what they do. But skin color doesn’t really matter. We can do anything.”
Chip Mitchell reports on policing, public safety and public health. Follow him at @ChipMitchell1. Contact him at cmitchell@wbez.org.
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Simone Biles’s triumphant return inspires young gymnasts
Her comeback in Hoffman Estates, two years since withdrawing from competitive gymnastics, made a deep impression on Chicago-area girls who packed the arena Saturday.
Simone Biles’s return to competition this weekend was not just a personal triumph for the 26-year-old. It was a moment of inspiration for young gymnasts across the Chicago area who flocked to see her.
Hundreds of preteen athletes, many of them brought by their mothers or coaches, packed NOW Arena in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates. They raised hand-painted signs spelling out their appreciation for Biles. They shrieked with each of her flips. And, after the meet, some of them said Biles had taught valuable lessons by focusing on her mental health and mustering the courage — two long years since withdrawing from most Olympic events in Tokyo — to pick up where she left off.
“I thought it was amazing how good she was,” said Mallory Czarnecki, 12, of New Lenox. “Usually, if I just take a week or two off, I feel like I’m so rusty and all my form is so bad.”
Biles, years older than all her U.S. Classic competitors, said the feeling from the 7,200 spectators helped her overcome nerves.
“Everyone’s so supportive, like in the crowd, all of the girls, all of the signs, it just makes my heart warm,” Biles said.
Biles finished first in three of the four events, topping other Olympic and world medalists in the competition. On the vault, she landed the breathtaking Yurchenko double pike — two full rotations with straight legs — a skill that she first pulled off before judges in 2021. No other woman has done it in competition.
‘“You don’t want to have too much pressure or else you can get hurt because you’re overthinking and, if you keep going, then you could get hurt if you’re not ready for it and confident enough,” Carolina said. “I think you should be 100% confident before you go out and do something.”
Charlie Lubbers, a 12-year-old from Homer Glen, said her group was seated 14 rows from the floor and had a great view of the balance beam. She said her “heart stopped” when Biles waved at them.
“It was like, ‘Wait, did Simone Biles just really wave at us? Was that a mistake?’ ”
Charlie said Biles is especially important to her because they’re both Black gymnasts.
“Some people say, like, ‘Okay, so you’re this skin color. So … you’re not allowed to do what we do, because you’re African American,’ ” Charlie said. “And they probably think we can’t do what they do. But skin color doesn’t really matter. We can do anything.”
Chip Mitchell reports on policing, public safety and public health. Follow him at @ChipMitchell1. Contact him at cmitchell@wbez.org.
More From
WBEZ News