Simone Biles Details Gymnastics Comeback, Aims For All-Around At 2018 P&Gs

Simone Biles Details Gymnastics Comeback, Aims For All-Around At 2018 P&Gs

Simone Biles has been training in the gym for the last couple months -- doing basics, conditioning, and just generally getting back into "gymnastics shape." In a recent interview with NBC Sports, she shed a bit more light on her plans for her comeback.

Oct 12, 2017 by Rebecca Johnson
Simone Biles Details Gymnastics Comeback, Aims For All-Around At 2018 P&Gs
Simone Biles has been training in the gym for the last couple months, working on conditioning and getting back into "gymnastics shape." Beginning in November, her schedule will allow her to begin training full-time with goals of competing in 2018. In a recent interview with NBC Sports, she shed more light on her specific plans for the comeback.

Biles said her goal is to compete at the 2018 U.S. Classic in July, but just on two events.

I would still be training all four events at Classics, but only competing two, just to get back into that competition mode. Then the goal is (the) P&Gs (Championships in August) to compete all (events), obviously, and then continue from there.
Her goal to compete next year will make her time off shorter than other Olympians who made comebacks in the past, such as Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas who each took two years off after London before returning to competition in 2015. But this was always Biles' plan.

"I never said, 'Oh, take a year and then we'll see, or maybe I need two years,'" she said. "It was always just, 'I'm going to take one year, rest the body, physically, mentally from gymnastics and then get back into it.'"

With her longtime coach Aimee Boorman now living and coaching in Florida, Biles is currently training at World Champions Centre with plans to announce her new coach later this month.

When talking about the return, Biles admitted, "It's going to be rough." She hasn't vaulted since the Olympics or done any skills she's not ready for, such as a dismount off beam. But she remains confident about the future.

The muscle memory is there because I've come and I've played in the gym. All of my skills are basically still there.
Biles said she has done all of her floor passes on soft landings as well as most of her skills on beam and bars. Right now, it's all just been "going in and playing," so when her full-time training begins, the "mentality will have to change, but I'm excited," she said.

It is not confirmed whether or not Biles will be in attendeance at the U.S. national team camp in January, but she will "probably" participate "just to get back in the swing of things, even though I won't be testing like other girls," she said.

At least I'll be back in the rhythm to just go in there and do whatever I need to do. And be with the national team coaches so they can get me up to date on all the new rules and everything.
One of the most anticipated gymnastics returns is on the horizon, and the 2018 P&G Championships just got a lot more interesting.


Related:
Simone Biles To Begin Full-Time Training In November