Four-time Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles will return to competition in early August at the US Classic in Chicago, her first event since the 2021 Tokyo Games.
Biles, 26, will take part in the single-day event on August 5, after withdrawing from several events at Tokyo and sitting out the past two years.
Biles, who won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, cited the pressure of expectations and a need to protect her mental health for her decision to pull out of events at Tokyo, where she won a bronze on the balance beam and a silver in the team competition, despite withdrawing after one vault.
That took her Olympic tally to seven medals, equalling Shannon Miller as the most successful American female gymnast.
Sunisa Lee, who shone in her compatriot's absence by winning the all-around competition in Tokyo, and Jade Carey, who won gold on floor, are also part of the elite women's field.
"The current [registration] list includes 12 Olympic and 16 world championships team roster members," said USA Gymnastics.
"Together, they have won 60 Olympic and world championships medals, with 12 from the Games and 48 from worlds. Those tallies include a combined 46 world or Olympic medals earned by Biles (32), Carey (8) and Lee (6)."
Biles, who recently married NFL player Jonathan Owens, used the US Classic to return from a two-year break in 2018, after her participation at Rio.
Reuters
