2024 Olympics: Why Simone Biles Skipped the Opening Ceremony in Paris

While Simone Biles missed the 2024 Opening Ceremony, her family was there and explained to NBC News’ Hoda Kotb and Snoop Dogg why she skipped the hours-long event.

Simone Biles is resting up before the 2024 Olympics really begin.

While the beloved gymnast was absent from the 2024 Paris Opening Ceremony July 26, her family—including parents Ronald and Nellie Biles—were in attendance, explaining to NBC News’ Hoda Kotb and Snoop Dogg that the 27-year-old is preparing to compete this weekend.

“The first competition is Sunday,” Nellie shared, “which is the Women’s Qualifier. And, of course, she needs to rest up before that competition.” 

Indeed, Simone, Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey were advised to skip the Opening Ceremony given the length of the event.

As for how Simone—who experienced a case of the twisties while competing at the Tokyo Olympics—is doing before hitting the mat this weekend?

“She is feeling really good,” Nellie told Hoda, “I spoke to her this morning and she’s doing great. She’s just in a really good place.”

In total, Simone will have 17 family members cheering her on as she competes at the Games, including her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, who got permission to miss practice with the Chicago Bears.

“I can’t wait to be able to support her,” he told reporters July 25, via Yahoo Sports. “How did I get so lucky? That this is my wife and I get to see someone that’s literally at the pinnacle at her sport and I get to call this my wife. It’s amazing. There’s no words to really describe, just blessed.”

And although Simone struggled with her mental health during the 2020 Games, she’s been feeling stronger than ever heading into the Paris Olympics.

“This time, coming back, it’s truly for myself,” she said in the Netflix docuseries, Simone Biles Rising, released July 17. “But it’s also, I never want to look back in 10 years and say, ‘Oh, what if I could’ve done another Olympic cycle or at least tried?'”

“Because so much has happened in this sport,” Simone noted, “so much has scared the living s–t out of me, that I couldn’t have it take that one last thing from me.”

As the four-time Olympic gold medalist put it, she’s ending on her own terms.

Keep reading to see more photos from the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony…