Why You Won’t See Simone Biles at the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony – NBC Chicago

The 2024 Summer Olympics kick off Friday with a historic opening ceremony in Paris. The highly anticipated event is underway, but one top American athlete will not be there.

While LeBron James and Coco Gauff serve as the U.S. flag bearers at the historic ceremony, gymnast Simone Biles still has some work to do.

All eyes will be on Biles as she returns to the Olympic stage after shocking the world by withdrawing from one of her final events at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see Biles, arguably one of the biggest stars of the 2024 Olympics, in action, which is why she won’t be appearing at Friday’s opening ceremony.

According to Biles’ mother, the record-breaking gymnast is preparing for Sunday’s competition.

“She needs to rest for that game,” Biles’ mother said.

Biles made headlines during the 2020 competition when she discovered she had the twisties and withdrew from the team final and individual all-around to focus on her mental health. However, she recovered before the competition ended and walked away with a bronze medal on the balance beam, along with silver on the team event.

After a two-year hiatus, Biles, 27, proved to be as dominant in her return to the international stage in 2023 as she was at her first Olympics in 2016. She won the individual all-around title at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in October and breezed through the U.S. Olympic qualifiers last month.

Now she is aiming for an Olympic performance that is unparalleled.

Gymnastics is traditionally one of the most popular Games, but Biles’ return will undoubtedly raise the stakes this year. The gymnastics competition begins on Saturday, but when can you see the legend himself?

The women’s team consists of Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carrey and Hezley Rivera.

Biles’ husband, a Chicago Bears player, will be at the Games to cheer her on.

A random draw earlier this year placed the women’s team in subdivision two in the qualifying round. After qualifying, the top teams will compete in the team finals, and the top athletes from the all-around and each event will also compete in those finals.

Below is the full women’s competition schedule where you should keep an eye on Biles:

July 28

Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Qualifications (US Division 2)

When the event occurs: The game starts at 2:30 AM CT; the U.S. subdivision starts at 4:40 AM CT

When it airs: The show begins airing on E! at 4:45 a.m. CT, on NBC 5 at 5:00 a.m. CT, on E! at 7:50 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m.; primetime broadcasts air on NBC 5 at 6:00 p.m.

July 30

Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final*

When the event occurs: 11:15 am CT

When it airs: The show airs on NBC 5 at 11:15 a.m. CT; it will be repeated in prime time beginning at 7:00 p.m.

1 August

Sport: Women’s Allround Artistic Gymnastics Final

When the event occurs: 11:15 am CT

When it airs: The broadcast begins at 11:15 a.m. CT on NBC 5 and resumes in primetime at 7:00 p.m. CT

3 August

Sport: Women’s artistic gymnastics final vault*

When the event occurs: 09:20 am CT

When it airs: Coverage begins on E! at 8:15 a.m. CT; the final events air on NBC 5 at 3:30 p.m. and again in primetime at 7 p.m.

August 4th

Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Final Uneven Bars

When the event occurs: 08:40 am CT

When it airs: The show begins airing at 8 a.m. on NBC 5; it will re-air in primetime beginning at 6 p.m. CT

August 5

Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Balance Beam Final

When the event occurs: 05:38 am CT

When it airs: Coverage begins at 4:45 p.m. CT on E! and on NBC 5 beginning at 8:30 p.m. CT. It will re-air in primetime on NBC 5 beginning at 7 p.m.

Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final

When the event occurs: 07:23 am CT

When it airs: Coverage begins at 4:45 p.m. CT on E! and on NBC 5 beginning at 8:30 p.m. CT. It will re-air in primetime on NBC 5 beginning at 7 p.m.