Simone Biles – Photo Credit: Wikimedia

It was not the night Simone Biles had expected but she secured her ticket to the Tokyo Games as the four-time Olympic champion finished first at the end of the US Olympic gymnastics trials in St Louis, Missouri. 

The 19-times world champion suffered a shock fall from the beam on an aerial cartwheel and sat in silence as a trainer taped her left foot and ankle. Reflecting on her tumble off the beam, Biles, who topped the all-around scores with 118.098, said she was disappointed not to have performed as well as she could.

“I was just really upset – everybody out here came, gave their heart and I just didn’t give my best performance, so that’s what I was most upset about,” said the 24-year-old.

“I feel like I’ve been emotional this whole week, I just can’t believe the Olympic trials are here again, I can’t believe I’m here again,” Biles told NBC. “The journey has been surreal – five years later and we’re doing it again.”

Rounding out the gold medal favourite team for Tokyo were Jordan Chiles, 20, and Grace McCallum, 18, who finished third and fourth and whose inclusion was determined by a selection committee.

MyKayla Skinner, 24, picked up the individual quota spot while Jade Carey, 21, who previously qualified for an individual spot through World Cup performances, will also compete.