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A18 SPORTS
Thursday 5 december 2019
Olympic champion Biles to headline post-Olympic tour

in 2020.
The organization remains in
bankruptcy court as it tries
to reach a resolution with
athletes who were sexually
abused by former national
team doctor Larry Nassar,
who abused gymnasts —
Biles included — under the
guise of treatment.
Biles said she hasn't spoken
to anyone at USA Gymnas-
tics directly about her tour
but added, "I know they're
aware about it and they've
been pretty supportive."
"Simone is an amazing ath-
lete and person, and hav-
ing her own tour will give
her a stage to showcase
her skills and talent, as well
as those of other women,"
USA Gymnastics said in a
statement.
Just how many athletes will
join Biles and Ohashi re-
mains uncertain.
"We're looking at the top of
the line and the best gym-
nasts from elite and maybe
we did think from around
In this Oct. 13, 2019, file photo, Gold medalist Simone Biles of the United States performs on the floor in the women's apparatus finals the world, but that gets re-
at the Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. ally, really difficult just be-
Associated Press cause of the visas and all of
that stuff," Biles said.
By WILL GRAVES "They said it could be as Biles verbally committed to television promos for the "Right now in the circle I
AP Sports Writer small as starting a perfume compete for the Bruins be- 2020 Olympics, where she know a couple of college
Simone Biles wants to bring line or maybe as big as a fore turning professional in will try to become the first gymnasts and then elite
gymnastics to the masses tour. I was like, 'Actually, 2015. woman in more than 50 gymnasts (who will be on
and plans to bring some that would be pretty sweet. Kondos Field, who retired years to repeat as gymnas- the tour), like world class."
of her friends along for the That would be the coolest last spring, will serve as ex- tics champion. Biles is in the midst of a re-
ride. thing ever.'" ecutive producer and su- While there are times she covery period following
The Olympic and world The women-only roster pervising choreographer admits she's still processing her record-breaking perfor-
champion is headlining a will reunite Biles with long- for the tour. her fame, she's is starting to mance at the world cham-
tour in the fall of 2020 that time friend Katelyn Ohashi. Biles said the goal is to understand her influence pionships.
will be a mixture of sports Ohashi and Biles com- bring the sport closer to on the sport. She said she anticipates
and entertainment intend- peted against each oth- the audience and also to It's one of the reasons she returning to competition in
ed to inspire the next gen- er growing up. Like Biles, loosen things up a bit. The agreed to headline the April before the US Cham-
eration of female athletes. Ohashi — the 2012 junior plan is to utilize giant video tour. pionships, the Olympic Tri-
The "Gold Over America" national champion — had screens, pyrotechnics and "In a way, it's scary," Biles als and then the Olympics
tour will visit more than 35 designs on competing at an in-house DJ. said. next summer.
cities, including Biles' home- the Olympics before injuries "We want this to be com- "But at this point I also feel Then it's likely off to retire-
town of Houston as well as sidetracked her elite ca- pletely different," Biles like it's really exciting to ment and a chance to
New York, Los Angeles and reer. She instead attended said. "There will be danc- have a platform that I do make an impact far be-
Chicago. UCLA, helping the Bruins ing. Hopefully trampoline. and to be able to do some yond the competition floor,
The idea originated when win the national title in 2018 Something people have of the things that I've been a process that will start with
Biles was in the early stages and becoming a viral sen- never seen before." blessed with. the tour, where she will
of her return to gymnas- sation last winter with her Biles captured five gold I think it's a combination of have her hand in selecting
tics in the fall of 2017 after Michael Jackson-themed medals at the 2019 world both. So I don't know. We the group and helping put
taking a year off following floor routine. championships to boost went back and forth on if the show together.
her memorable perfor- "She made her mark," Biles her career total to 25 med- we wanted my name in it, "I feel like everyone's cre-
mance at the 2016 Olym- said. als overall, a record for but you never know. I think ative vision coming togeth-
pics, where she won four "She put college gym- both men and women. it'll be OK." er is very unique," she said.
gold medals and five in all, nastics and gymnastics ... She is widely considered USA Gymnastics typically "And so I think once we get
becoming the face of her back on the map. She has the greatest gymnast of coordinates a post-Olym- together and we have a
sport. impacted a lot of female all time and her face has pic tour of its own, though set plan on what we'll do,
"When we found out I was gymnasts and I think this re- been at the forefront of there are no plans for one it'll be very exciting."q
coming back, we kind of ally brings us full circle."
sat down and talked about The tour will also finally al-
things I would want to do," low Biles to join forces with
Biles told The Associated former UCLA coach Val linda.reijnders@cspnv.com
Press on Wednesday. Kondos Field.