Will Graves, Associated Press national reporter
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — There was a time, ahead of the Olympics, when Simone Biles discovered “the beauty of being blind” and enjoyed not knowing what she didn't know.
That was eight years ago, when she was a teenager and a bit clumsy.
Those days are long gone, and the evidence is not just in Biles' driver's license or marriage certificate, but in the way that, now at 27, she can see outside herself. Gone is the tunnel vision that most great athletes have in their pursuit of greatness.
And that's perhaps the biggest difference between the national title the gymnastics star won Sunday night – her ninth with a total score of 119.750 points – and her first win more than a decade ago.
The moment that sealed Biles' victory wasn't a twist, a change of direction or a jump, but a walk.
It happened early on, when Biles watched in a mixture of shock and horror as 2020 Olympic gold medalist and close friend Sunisa Lee rotated awkwardly on the vault and landed on her back.
“I thought that was it,” Lee said.
Then, out of nowhere, Biles appeared beside her, and she knew more than anyone exactly where Lee was at that moment.
A similar vault mistake by Biles at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago set off a chain of events that led her to withdraw from multiple events and brought to the forefront the discussion of the importance of mental health.
Watching Li try to bounce back after battling kidney problems for much of the past two years that have seen her fluctuate in weight and make training difficult, Biles walked away from her teammates at the World Champions Center to give Li the kind of support she relied on so much during her time in Japan.
“I know how traumatic it can be, especially on such a big stage like this,” Biles said. “I didn't want to put her through it, so we just talked about it.”
The two retired to talk, with Biles reminding Li that “she can do hard things.”
When they returned, Biles stood next to the balance beam to cheer on Li, who bounced back with a stunning (if somewhat diluted) routine, earning a score of 14.500 and placing a promising fourth place.
“I was going through a tough time and she was just there to cheer me up,” Lee said.
Biles is at a stage in her unparalleled career where the joy she gets from the sport is no longer focused solely on the quality of her performance.
“I'm aging like a fine wine,” she joked, but then, suggestively, she reserved her biggest smile for when she spoke about the five teammates at the World Champions Center – most of them 10 years younger – who will join her at the Olympic Trials in Minneapolis later this month.
“I think they have long careers ahead of them, so that's what makes me so happy,” Biles said, “so if there's anything I can do to help them out, now or in the future, I will.”
It's her way of giving back. She's well aware of the attention that awaits her in Paris and wants to set an example for others on how to handle the pressure that awaits. She's started seeing therapy regularly and now attends therapy during the tournament, determined to focus on the things she can control.
For example, her gymnastics.
Before a crowd that included her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, Biles put on a four-rotation clinic that had all the hallmarks of a typical Biles performance: a mix of incredible athleticism, precision and self-confidence.
Biles earned the highest two-day scores in all four events, something she has only achieved once before at the US National Championships (2018).
Her only mistake on Sunday was the vault, where she made a mistake during her warm-up on a Yurchenko double pike and then put in too much force and fell onto her back at a crucial moment. But she still managed to earn 15,000 points for her efforts, a testament to the fact that no woman has ever completed the vault in competition and only select men have attempted it.
But she didn't care. Biles pulled herself together, took a few deep breaths, and then attempted the Chain vault, finishing in 15.1 seconds to put her within reach of winning her ninth national title. No other athlete in U.S. gymnastics history has won more than seven titles.
Biles is in her usual position near the top, but the U.S. team, which finished second to the Russians in Tokyo three years ago, will enter Paris as the favorites to return to the top of the podium. Competition is fierce for the four remaining spots on the five-person U.S. team.
19-year-old Skye Blakely heads to Minneapolis on a roll after another outstanding performance. Three years after an injury ended her bid to make the 2020 Olympic team, Blakely is in great form at the right time.
Li maintained her grace on her specialties, the balance beam and balance pole, competing in her first elite all-around competition since winning in Tokyo and was heartened by Biles' cheers from the stands.
Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey were also favorites to win, but both fell on the balance beam Sunday, and third-place finisher Kayla DiCello fell on the uneven bars.
Also, Leah Jones, considered the best all-around gymnast in the United States outside of Biles, withdrew from the championships on Friday because of a shoulder injury but said Sunday she felt better and expected to compete in preliminaries. Kalya Lincoln, 18, also opted not to compete on Sunday after twisting her ankle during the opening session Friday night.
Both players, if healthy, are considered strong contenders to earn an invitation to Paris (especially Jones).
Biles' ticket was essentially a winner, just like it always has been.
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