Simone Biles and Team USA Choose Low-Key Celebration to Conserve Energy
Instead of attending the opening ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. gymnastics teams opted for their own lighthearted celebration at their Tokyo hotel. In a playful mock parade, both the men’s and women’s teams dressed in their official Team USA uniforms, with three-time Olympian Sam Mikulak carrying the flag and Simone Biles following closely behind. Staff members cheered as the athletes waved to an imaginary crowd, a moment captured and shared online by Lisa Spini, coach of gymnast MyKayla Skinner.
Skipping the long, two-hour Parade of Nations is common for athletes competing early in the Games, as it allows them to rest and stay focused. The men’s team begins qualifications on Saturday, with the women’s team following on Sunday. Biles, expected to add several gold medals to her record-breaking career, remains the defending all-around Olympic champion after a historic performance in Rio 2016, where she won four golds and a bronze.