"I was just happy to be back out there" - Simone Biles reacts after her all-around title win at the U.S. Core Hydration Classic 2024

Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles has reacted after winning the women’s all-around title in the 2024 Core Hydration Classic held at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Competing for the first time in the Olympic year, Biles showed the world why she is regarded as one of the greatest of all time as she secured a total of 59.500 points to win the all-around crown.

In the 2024 U.S. Classic, she earned a dominant victory with scores of 15.600 in vault, 14.550 in uneven bars, 14.550 in balance beam, and 14.800 on the floor exercise, to finish ahead of second-placed Shilese Jones (57.650). With this achievement, she also bagged her seventh all-around title in the history of the U.S. Classic.

In addition, Biles also won the first position in the floor exercise and came second on the uneven bars and balance beam apparatus at the 2024 U.S. Classic.

Following her victory, the 27-year-old was asked about the key lessons that she learned from her participation in the event. Biles responded to this question (via NBC Olympics & Paralympics), stating:

“Yes, for me, I was just happy to be back out there, get through those nerves again, feel that adrenaline. I can't really complain how the first meet back was.”

In addition to this, Simone Biles was also asked about her uneven bars routine, to which, she answered:

“Yeah, you know, it's just for me, it's just about getting through it, having the confidence and working on cleanliness, so I got through it. Of course, there's things to go home and fix, but I'm not mad about it.”

A look into Simone Biles’ performance at the 2023 Core Hydration Classic

Simone Biles celebrates after winning the all-around at the Core Hydration Classic at Now Arena on August 05, 2023 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Simone Biles made her first appearance in an event since competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the 2023 Core Hydration Classic, also known as the 2023 U.S. Classic. She had taken a break, owing to mental health issues after experiencing Twisties at the Tokyo Olympics.

Despite participating in her first event after a long hiatus, Simone Biles delivered a phenomenal performance where she featured in all four apparatus and won the all-around with a total score of 59.100.

This score was five points clear of second-placed Leanne Wong who scored 54.100 points. Besides winning the all-around title, she won the balance beam and floor exercise and placed third in the uneven bars.