Three the hard way: Biles, Douglas and Lee headline historic US Classic

There was once a time, not long ago, when the women’s Olympic all-around champion’s triumphant week was also likely to be the last time they ever appeared in an international competition. If their tireless journey to the summit of their sport had not left deep physical or mental scars, then the perception of women’s gymnastics as a sport for teenagers would keep them from investing their time in another run. Between 1980 and 2016, not a single Olympic women’s all-around champion gymnast returned to compete at another Olympic games.

This is a time of change in women’s artistic gymnastics, though, and the US Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, this weekend is testament to how many more gymnasts are enjoying longer, fuller careers. For the first time in history, three women’s Olympic all-around champions, Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee, will compete in the same event as they each vie to return to another Olympics.

“I love this generation,” said Douglas on Friday. “We’re pushing the boundaries and saying, ‘Hey, you don’t have to be 16 and dominate. You can be in your 20s and still eat.’”

Of the three comebacks, Douglas’ presence in Hartford is the most fascinating. The 28-year-old is already a trailblazer in numerous ways; after becoming the first Black gymnast win the Olympic all-around gold at the London 2012 Olympic games, in 2016 she became the first all-around champion since Nadia Comaneci in 1980 to return to another Olympic games, where she earned a gold medal with the US team. Despite her success, Douglas’ second Olympics was a traumatic experience that has driven her decision to return to competition.

“I missed gymnastics,” said Douglas. “I loved it and it ended rough for me in 2016 so I didn’t want to end on that note. Regardless of the outcome, I want to end on love and joy instead of hating something that I love.”

Her journey since announcing her return last summer has been turbulent to say the least. Douglas withdrew on the eve of February’s planned comeback event, the Winter Cup, citing Covid. Her absence meant she was not eligible for any of the numerous international competitions this spring as she had hoped. She instead returned in understated surroundings at the American Classic, a small competition held inside a simple gym in Katy, Texas, on 27 April. It was a difficult day. Although Douglas landed an excellent vault and showed some potential, she fell twice on the uneven bars and once on floor.

While Douglas’ American Classic showing was shaky, at Friday’s podium training, where gymnasts go through their routines on the competition floor, her performance was far more encouraging. Douglas nearly missed the podium training after her commercial flight was cancelled on Thursday night, eventually making it there at the last minute with two hours sleep on a private jet owned by a friend of her agent. Once there, Douglas navigated a world-class uneven bars set with some help from her coach and she showed upgraded skills on the balance beam and floor.

“I’m not gonna put a lot of pressure on myself,” said Douglas. “I’m just gonna take it one step at a time. And then we’ll go from there.”

As Douglas finishes preparations for her first significant occasion in eight years, this weekend marks Biles’ return to competition since her incredible comeback at last year’s world championships, where she won four gold medals and a silver in her first major competition since a mental block forced her to withdraw from most of her events at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Despite her dominance last year, Biles had actually been cautious with her skill selection in Antwerp, opting against performing her more elaborate twisting skills as she eased her way back into competition. The confidence the 27-year-old gained from the world championships and many more months of training seem to have been extremely helpful. On Friday, she returned to competition boasting her eponymous triple-twisting double back on the floor exercise, another one of the hardest skills in women’s gymnastics history that Biles has pioneered.

Since becoming the fourth consecutive American Olympic all-around champion in 2021, Lee has had her own challenges to overcome. After spending time performing in college for Auburn University, she was diagnosed with a kidney condition in early 2023. The 21-year-old has not competed internationally since her Olympic triumph.

After her difficulties last year, Lee has been slowly ramping up her all-around program in recent weeks. Like Douglas, her key to contending for a spot on the team is her immense potential uneven bars and the solidity she presented on all other events at her best, but both gymnasts are seriously up against the clock. As has been the case for the past 12 years since Douglas led her team to the 2012 Olympic gold medal that started this period of American dominance, the field is incredibly tough and making the US Olympic team is probably even more challenging than going for Olympic gold once there.

Hartford is merely the start of a gruelling six-week process to determine the five-person Olympic teams. The gymnasts will then head to the two-day US Gymnastics Championships from 30 May, before the leading contenders are invited to the final event of the run, the Olympic trials, which begin on 27 June.