Explainer | Paris Olympics: what to know and who to watch during the gymnastics competition
- Brazilian world champion Rebeca Andrade is a likely threat to American dominance, while Fred Richard is potentially a new US star to watch
Always a keenly contested affair, the men’s and women’s gymnastics are a highlight of the first week of the Summer Olympics.
With plenty of storylines, including the return of Simone Biles, here is our guide to what’s coming up in Paris.
Athletes to watch
Simone Biles (United States): The 2016 all-around Olympic champion will return for her third Olympics at age 27. She won two medals in Tokyo – team silver and a bronze in balance beam – despite removing herself from multiple competitions to focus on her mental health. She returned to the sport last year, winning a record sixth world all-around title.
Sunisa Lee (US): Lee became the fifth-straight American woman to claim the Olympic all-around title when she won in Tokyo. The 21-year-old has been fighting health issues over the past three years but will defend her title as part of the five-woman US team.
Rebeca Andrade (Brazil): Andrade in 2021 became the first woman from South America to win a medal in the all-around, earning silver behind Lee. The 2022 world all-around champion, Andrade is likely to be the main threat of ending the US’ long run atop the all-around podium.