“I think it’s going to be a competition between all the Team USA girls, which will be fun to watch.”
The women of USA Gymnastics have already seized the spotlight in Paris. Simone Biles is back and, despite nursing a calf injury, led the U.S. to gold in the team final. And they’re just getting started.
With the individual events still to come, we turned to another Olympic icon to break down this year’s competition and what we can expect from Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera. Shawn Johnson East, who won four medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and is in Paris now to cover the games for Yahoo Sports, met with us before the Summer Games to talk about the GOAT, the new rule that’s got gymnastics fans talking, and much more.
Katie Couric Media: How did the athletes look at the Olympic trials?
Shawn Johnson East: I thought they looked wonderful. There were quite a few little execution mistakes. I think they were just getting those nerves out. There were also a lot of injuries, which was really unfortunate to see. There were three back-to-back injuries that took three top competitors out of the competition, which I think shook the whole field.
Shilese Jones was a frontrunner for the team, so seeing her have to pull out of the competition was definitely a shock to everybody. Skye Blakely and Kayla DiCello were also very strong contenders for that fifth or alternate spot. So those injuries were heartbreaking, but it was especially hard to see Blakely go down, because she got hurt in the 2021 Olympic trials.
What can you tell us about Hezly Rivera, the rookie on this year’s team?
She made the fifth spot for the competition squad: She’s adorable, rock solid, and consistent. She’s also coached by the Liukins, who are very strong coaches with a lot of experience. I think she’ll contribute great scores to the team and in the all-around.
The U.S. has sent its oldest gymnastics team ever. What do you think that says about the sport and the culture of USA Gymnastics?
It’s wild. Four of those girls are repeats from the Tokyo Olympics, something we have never seen before. I think that’s a huge testament to the systematic change we’ve seen in USA gymnastics. For a very long time, there’s been this toxic culture, and they had this survival of the fittest mentality. The new governing body, the new president, everybody that’s now working at USA Gymnastics, I truly think, is invested in the longevity of the athletes and you’re seeing it. They’re coming back, they’re competing stronger than ever, and they’re feeling supported as older athletes, and that’s created a really, really strong team.
How do you expect Simone Biles to perform during the rest of the competition in Paris?
Simone Biles is Simone Biles. She is the greatest of all time, and I think she will be the greatest our sport ever sees. I think she looked phenomenal at the Olympic trials; there were execution mistakes, which were seen across the board, but it’s better that those happen at the Olympic trials rather than at the Olympics. I think she has the capability to medal in every single event: team, all-around, and in all four individuals. If she does what she’s capable of, I think six gold medals is possible.
How do you expect Team USA’s other gymnasts to do in the individual events?
I honestly think every single gymnast we sent to Paris is going to have a huge year. You have Suni Lee, who’s returning after having the most amazing Olympics in Tokyo where she became the all-around champion and then spent the next three years dealing with her health issues. At one point, she was told she might never be able to perform again, and now she’s back on the team and is a very strong contender.
You have Jade Carey, who’s won the world championships in vault multiple times and is a multiple medalist on floor, and Jordan Chiles, who’s another fierce competitor. I think it’s going to be a competition between all the Team USA girls, which will be fun to watch. Their hardest fight is going to be with the Chinese on the bars and beam.
Does it feel like the U.S. should dominate at these Summer Games?
I always want to avoid saying that it’s ours to lose because anything can happen. I will say that we’re a very strong team this year, as we always are. And I think the experience, the expertise, and the knowledge they’re bringing from Tokyo will make a difference.
Are there any adjustments to the scoring or the rules this year that people watching should be aware of?
My phone was blowing up about this during the Olympic trials. It’s called the “three up, three count” rule. Out of your squad of five, you choose three people to compete in each event. You can pick three women to do the bars and a different three people for the vault, for example, but all three of those scores count toward your team score — you can’t drop any of them. Most world competitions are a four up, three count, so you can drop your lowest score. Not at these Olympics; every single routine counts.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
