Simone Biles Shines as Celebrities Watch Her Paris Competition Debut

Simone Biles is back.

The greatest gymnast in history made her return at the Paris Games with a remarkable performance during the Women’s Team All-Around qualifiers. Leading the U.S. team, which includes Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera, Biles ensured a strong chance for the squad to secure a place in the Finals.

Biles, who dealt with the “twisties” in Tokyo—a condition where gymnasts experience dangerous disorientation while airborne—showed no signs of hesitation at the City of Light’s Bercy Arena.

Clad in a dazzling gray, almost holographic leotard embellished with crystals, Biles’s determination matched the steely hue of her outfit. She executed a modified version of the highly challenging “Yurchenko double pike” on the vault. By the end of the competition, she led her group with a score of 59.566—a score that would have clinched the last two world championships.

In the stands, a constellation of stars watched her perform. Celebrities like Shaun White and Nina Dobrev, Jessica Chastain, Tom Cruise, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande were present. Lady Gaga, fresh from her Opening Ceremony performance as a feathered cabaret singer along the Seine, was also in attendance.

The singer shared a video of Biles’s beam routine, accompanied by the caption: “She nailed it, what an honor to be so close,” followed by crying emojis and an American flag. This moment proves that even mega-celebrities like Gaga are currently in the backseat—rightfully, Biles has the world’s attention.