A-Listers Flock To Paris To Watch Simone Biles’ Paris Olympics Debut

Simone Biles has once again came into a Summer Olympic Games as one of the true global stars of the entire event. The gymnast is equal parts dominant and entertaining with her high-flying brand of gymnastics that seem to both defy the laws of physics and what we thought was physically possible in the sport.

Now in her third Olympic Games, the 27-year-old made for a tough ticket to Bercy Arena in Paris on Sunday for the Qualification Round at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Among those lucky enough to get in the 20,000-seat arena were a ton of A-list celebrities who made the trip across the pond.

Celebrity attendees included Tom Cruise, Anna Wintour, Ariana Grande, Jessica Chastain, Greta Gerwig, Peyton Manning, Shaun White, Nina Dobrev, Snoop Dogg, and John Legend alongside wife Chrissy Teigen.

They got to see a great show. Despite injuring her ankle warming up for the USA’ second apparatus of the day, Floor Exercise, Biles was spectacular. Her All-Around score of 59.566 led all competitors by well over three points through the first two subdivisions, with teammates Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles in second and third. However, due to rules that only allow two gymnasts per event to advance to the finals, only Biles and Lee, the last two Olympic All-Around Champions, will advance to the 24-woman All-Around Final on Thursday.

Biles sits at first on Vault and Floor Exercise, and second on the Balance Beam through two subdivisions. Her Uneven Bars score was solid for her, but is unlikely to stay in the top 8 scores that make the event finals.

Later Sunday, the biggest rival to Biles’ crown since she won her first World All-Around title back in 2013, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, will compete in Subdivision 5, the final Subdivision. It will be interesting to see how her scores stack up in anticipation of Thursday’s All-Around Final.