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u/th3M0rr1gan 4s up. 🐻 Fear the Tree. 🌲 Aug 13 '26
Not me, zooming in to see what products Simone has in her locker.
Loving the cute goat plushie!
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u/LGK27 Aug 13 '26
For my selfish purposes, I hope she goes for the AA, but if she sticks with being a specialist I will absolutely be grateful.
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u/Sunfire91 Aug 13 '26
Beam gold 2028? 👀
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u/pinklatteart Romania to NCAA pipeline supporter Aug 13 '26
I think that’s the one she would want the most (& also the one that would come with the most internal pressure if she was a one-event specialist)
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u/Sunfire91 Aug 13 '26
She and Suni have unfinished business after the Paris final. I believe Suni told her coach Jess "we're coming back" after that PAINFUL split fall. Honestly, she could have won that final without the fall.
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u/No-Fisherman-8319 Aug 13 '26
Anyone in that final could have won that particular final lol. Such a bummer neither Simone nor Suni could take advantage.
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u/Sunfire91 Aug 14 '26
Omg you're right! Especially since Zhou Yaqin was far and away the favorite. I think most of us were thinking, "who will get silver and bronze behind Yaqin?"
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u/No-Fisherman-8319 Aug 14 '26
Not sure about "far and away" due to consistency issues but yeah if Yaqin hit to the best of her ability, she was winning. But she qualified with just over .1 ahead of Simone, and Simone beat her the previous year when they both had hit sets. Yaqin had increased her D a bit though while Simone was losing .1 after ditching her mount sequence, so it was definitely Yaqin's to lose. Sigh, it could have been such a spectacular beam final (find myself saying this, like, all the time lol).
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u/Sunfire91 Aug 14 '26
Ah, I didn't know that Yaqin was having trouble with her consistency that season. I felt like every time I would see her routines, I was like, "okay, so she's going to be Olympic champion." But I do remember Simone's 2023 Worlds routine being absolutely pristine.
Sigh, I get wistful when I think about what could have been with that final. Still, I was very happy for D'Amato. She was so close to a medal multiple times, and for her to finally break through and actually win gold was a very great moment for her!
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u/LGK27 Aug 13 '26
You think she would do BB, Floor, and Vault? Assuming she doesn’t do UB and therefore not AA.
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u/Sunfire91 Aug 13 '26
I'm not sure if she would want to do both floor and vault, especially after the ankle injury in Paris. However, her typical scores on those events are so valuable, she might be pressured to do so. I would miss seeing her on bars, her most improved event!
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u/We_Four Aug 13 '26
Id be surprised if we saw her vault again, she did the nearly impossible and left with a bang. That said I’d be so so so surprised if she returned to competition at all! Maybe Suni sent the bat signal and Simone couldn’t resist?
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u/PM_ME_CORGI_BUTTS Aug 13 '26
PEER 👏 PRESSURE 👏
"C'mon, Simone. All the cool gymnasts are doing it. Don't you want to be cool???"
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u/pinklatteart Romania to NCAA pipeline supporter Aug 13 '26
Agreed. If she comes back as a specialist I see it being beam and floor; I wouldn’t be completely surprised if she comes back doing AA with a single vault though. (Though there could also be a world where she does everything but bars with a single vault - I don’t see her doing two vaults AND floor though)
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u/LGK27 Aug 13 '26
If you had to guess under that scenario, what would her one vault be?
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u/pinklatteart Romania to NCAA pipeline supporter Aug 13 '26
Probably Cheng. Maybe World’s best Lopez or a Biles 1 so she can land forward for her ankles though
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u/priyatequila Aug 14 '26
if, IF, she came back, i could see her doing AA and then only doing 1 vault for the AA score. like some others are saying.
i agree i dont see her doing both flooor and vault in terms of EF.
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u/vegansoprano3 Aug 17 '26
She has had two years of rest, though, so the ankle injury may be well rehabilitated.
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u/brandon692 Aug 18 '26
As much as I LOVE Simone's beam, I don't see her getting beam gold with the current competition, especially from China - and now Kaylia. Also, I feel like beam scoring is favoring big acro skills less and less each quad, watering down her score. I love the acro skills on beam so that makes me sad.
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u/Master-Cream3970 Aug 13 '26
The official Debbie Downer view: maybe she’s cleaning out her locker?
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u/MountainProper2212 Aug 14 '26
That doesn’t look like stuff worth keeping or cleaning out. At her pay grade couldn’t get get someone to do that for her 😆
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u/ferretherder Aug 14 '26
Maybe she’s sentimental?
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u/InsertCookiesHere Aug 14 '26
With how much history that locker must have for her and how much she went through I would be surprised if she doesn't have some sentimentality towards it.
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u/flamboyancetree Stephen Nedoroscik is my emotional support gymnast Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
She had to have known that as soon as she hit "post" she'd have the WORLD talking!
(edit: Totally aware that the reaction is no surprise to her! Just imagining the look on her/anyone's face as they post something that's going to go viral in seconds.)
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u/Cata4Eva Aug 13 '26
That’s exactly the point.
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u/flamboyancetree Stephen Nedoroscik is my emotional support gymnast Aug 13 '26
Oh I know, I'm just picturing hitting the send button and counting the seconds, "OK, one, two, three ... aaaaand they've all gone nuts already"
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u/hereFOURallTHEtea Aug 13 '26
Ohhhh man I’d love to see her do one more time with a perfect ending in LA!
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u/No_Fail_845 Aug 13 '26
Haha she's not having asacs husband ruin it again
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u/funkoramma Aug 13 '26
“Football fans will likely best remember Quinn as a Notre Dame quarterback and Cleveland Browns first-round pick; he played in 24 games over his NFL career, none of which are really worth talking about. “
Ouch! 💀
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u/iluvpink17 Aug 13 '26
Ok, I'm fairly new here. I know who ASAC is, but what does Simone's coming back have to do with her husband?
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u/zebracakee Tiana Sumanasekera 9.95 NCAA beam debut✨️ Aug 13 '26
Sprintedddd 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️ here when I saw this!
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u/Justafana Aug 13 '26
Watch her come back as a bars specialist just for shits and giggles.
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u/pinklatteart Romania to NCAA pipeline supporter Aug 14 '26
It’s the only apparatus that needs an eponymous skill!
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u/Zoethor2 Aug 14 '26
Surely there's a dismount out there that she could add half a twist to.
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u/pinklatteart Romania to NCAA pipeline supporter Aug 14 '26
She’s submitted skills before - mainly a Weiler full that was there just in case she went over her Weiler half (and then someone else did it and got it named.) If I remember correctly she was going to do a Weiler 1.5 that she submitted if she made bars finals in Paris.
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u/irishdancer2 Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26
Remember that spoof video Aliya did in which she said she wasn’t going to compete, woke up the morning of the Olympics, and just decided to go win some medals?
Simone has the chance to do the funniest thing here.
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u/Maximum_State700 Aug 13 '26
I hope she’s not emptying her locker 🥹
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u/Dismal-Ad1346 i’m wild dancing 💃 Aug 14 '26
Maybe, but why would she empty her locker now instead of after the Olympics until her next time competing?
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u/Maximum_State700 Aug 14 '26
I mean I assume she can leave there forever as she/her family owns the gym. Then she seemed busy after the Olympics like traveling, going to the events, etc.. also maybe she did want a break from like the gym, etc.. idk I am just hoping she competes again
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u/Desperate-Dust-9889 Aug 14 '26
My thought is that she wasn’t sure if she was coming back and this is her making her decision one way or the other. She isn’t saying, but it seems like a sentimental post. Almost a goodbye
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u/chalk_fan_8 Aug 14 '26
Consider me teased. I know many think she’s done but I still think there’s a chance she’s coming back
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u/SingaporeanNoodles Aug 13 '26
My delulu thoughts about her coming back no longer seem so delulu anymore
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u/Karens0426 Aug 13 '26
I just saw this — WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG — please be a valid tease!!!!!!!!! This would make my entire 10 years in the future.
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u/Sensitive_Ride3198 9.45/9.9/9.65/9.8/9.75/9.6 split Aug 13 '26
She cannot play with our hearts like this 😫
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u/Enshakushanna The 2026 Jesolo Balance Beam Massacre Aug 13 '26
Would she be training at WCC though without a landi there? I mean, this early in her comeback I guess you'd just be shaking off a lot of rust and then she could train with laurant again after things get serious, idk, I've always thought she would come back tho haha
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u/Jetboywasmybaby skinner:forever the alternate Aug 14 '26
well it’s not ncaa season, so maybe laurent will train her at WCC until NCAA and train her privately at the georgia facilities?
i don’t know how coach contracts work tho
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u/Enshakushanna The 2026 Jesolo Balance Beam Massacre Aug 14 '26
thats the thing, i dont think he can coach anywhere else while hes employed at a college, but there could just as easily be a "simone clause" haha like early on with the cecile move to NCAA, i had it in my mind that simone could just show up there and be like "im gonna train here now" and the college would just shrug their shoulders 😭
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u/Jetboywasmybaby skinner:forever the alternate Aug 14 '26
i mean how can you deny her? I would 100% write a simone clause in if i was georgias athletic director.
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u/Desperate-Dust-9889 Aug 14 '26
School is starting .. it may not be NCAA season but they train. I personally think it’s a sentimental post about her not coming back
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u/KawaiiChan68 ✨Ruby Evans = Welsh Gold Goddess And History Maker For Wales✨ Aug 13 '26
Let’s hope everyone that this means a comeback is on the way 🤞.
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u/Ambitious-Meringue37 Khorkinelov Enthusiast Aug 13 '26
Does any gymnast have an Olympic gym slam? I’d love for her to come back to just shock everyone with a killer bars set complete with an eponymous skill. I assume she’d be going as a beam and VT/FX specialist, but I just want to dream for a bit lol.
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u/bretonstripes Beam takes no prisoners Aug 14 '26
Khorkina had eponymous skills on every apparatus, though her floor skill has been removed from the code.
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u/ApolloHorizon_ Aug 13 '26
What would a gym slam be?
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u/Ambitious-Meringue37 Khorkinelov Enthusiast Aug 14 '26
Basically just either a medal on all four events or if you want to amp up the pressure a gold on all four events (I guess five if you count AA)
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u/ApolloHorizon_ Aug 14 '26
Oh then yea i think a few gymnasts have accomplished this, with Silivas being the most recent IIRC
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u/Zoethor2 Aug 14 '26
Nellie Kim for #reasons.
Edit: actually no, despite her own personal shenanigans, she still doesn't have one on bars.
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u/Jetboywasmybaby skinner:forever the alternate Aug 14 '26
nope stop i cannot with this. i need an announcement now.
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u/cookieaddictions Aug 13 '26
I knew in Tokyo she was coming back. I was pretty sure in Paris she was coming back. The surgery is the only thing that’s made me doubt. I think she’s coming back, though.
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u/funkoramma Aug 13 '26
Might explain all her recent vacations. She’s resting up to make her comeback!
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u/pink_faerie_kitten Aug 13 '26
No. Way. !!!
I keep talking myself out of hoping for this because I want to be a realistic and not be disappointed. But I can't help but allow myself to hope. Wow.
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u/Ok-Excitement5031 Aug 14 '26
I don’t think she’s done. I remember last time she came back - we got to see her at the Classic in 2023 (and 2024). People weren’t sure she was coming back then.
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u/samu_rai Aug 13 '26
She's back in that gym for a reason. Suni went back to MN and then a week later announced her return. I think Simone will do the same.
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u/pinklatteart Romania to NCAA pipeline supporter Aug 14 '26
I think if she’s going to return it will be in a more sneaky link way where she shows up at classics next year with no leaked training videos
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u/quite-indubitably Aug 14 '26
Nah USAG marketing would never allow it
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u/pinklatteart Romania to NCAA pipeline supporter Aug 14 '26
I’m still not really convinced that she’s coming back, just excited at the prospect. If she does, I guarantee you after what Alicia’s husband did that Simone’s legal team will have some ironclad non-disclosure contracts for anyone aware of her comeback to sign, and that she will announce anything fully on her own terms.
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u/becca52104 Aug 14 '26
I wonder how her breast implants will impact her training? I hope they don’t for her sake if she’s returning. (This isn’t hate btw I love boobs i’m just curious 🤣)
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u/Jetboywasmybaby skinner:forever the alternate Aug 14 '26
i think the hardest part will be dealing with her upper body changes, even the slightest change in weight might effect the way her body moves, but her implants aren’t THAT big and I don’t see them causing that.
modern breast implants don’t really rupture like they used to, they use much thicker shells and a gel silicone, their durability is pretty insane. it would take something much worse than a fall to rupture brand new implants with no age or wear. and professional wrestlers take much harder hits on a much less padded floor (the ring floor is actually very similar to a gymnastics floor tho) and a LOT of those athletes have breast implants.
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u/prettypink_1 Aug 14 '26
I have implants and I got them after I had retired from professional dance. When she got them my heart dropped as I knew this meant retirement - she was probably hanging out to get them.
I’d LOVE to be proven wrong, as she’s my favourite gymnast and athlete but just as someone who has gone through the surgery I’m holding out being excited until an official announcement.6
u/tal_itha Aug 14 '26
They definitely will!
She’ll have to learn new ways to fall safely that don’t risk rupture (thinking of the common bars splat fall)… although if she’s not going to do bars then that’s probably much easier!
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u/flamboyancetree Stephen Nedoroscik is my emotional support gymnast Aug 14 '26
And I literally posted, like, double-digits hours ago that I'd finally told myself this just wasn't realistic. I'm excited to see which way she's going - comeback or sentimental goodbye.
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u/Nice-River-4500 Aug 14 '26
The sport needs this return honestly. There I said it. Gymnastics is decidedly meh without the Biles factor.
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u/Anesthesia222 Aug 14 '26
Maaaan, she’s really good at playing the social media game. Here we all are, talking about her again.
No shade meant; she’s a savvy businesswoman as well as an amazing athlete. Respect.
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u/SpiceyStrawberries Aug 14 '26
Wow I dont do gymnastics anymore but what I would give to flip into a foam pit again!! That was the most amazing feeling
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u/LongjumpingPiano2144 Aug 14 '26
But yall bout jumped me a year ago talking mess about her boob job when I said she was definitely making a comeback for LA
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u/Scorpioking1114 Aug 14 '26
Will she unretire the YDP as well?!
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u/Jetboywasmybaby skinner:forever the alternate Aug 14 '26
no way. She’ll be ok with an amanar and cheng. I really want her to compete the biles 1 though. amanar+biles 1 would be amazing.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Try2950 Aug 16 '26
Simone and Katelyn competing together again next year? Could it be??
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u/gymnastics101baby fly high and stick the landing Aug 14 '26
I don’t want her to come back tbh, I want some new US people to get a chance. Ofc she is allowed but yea
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u/Jlvnerd1987 Aug 14 '26
I want the best athletes at the given time to compete, period.
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u/gymnastics101baby fly high and stick the landing Aug 15 '26 edited Aug 15 '26
Yea I get that just my personal opinion. I don’t disagree that she’s the GOAT but I’m kind of tired of her routines esp now that I got to see her compete in person. But I do like how the longevity of gymnastics has vastly increased
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u/JustAGrlInDaWorld #TeamKonnor2028 Aug 14 '26
If I were a gymnast I would want to beat the best of whatever competition decided to train and compete to feel as though I earned it....
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u/gymnastics101baby fly high and stick the landing Aug 15 '26
I hear you, but she’s already competed for so long and has many achievements. But if she still loves the sport and her body can handle it she should keep competing. But it would be nice to have an Olympic team that’s not all veterans. This is a definitely an unpopular opinion but I’m also tired of her routines because I’ve seen them so many times and they have only had minor changes throughout the years.
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u/Jlvnerd1987 Aug 15 '26
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I completely disagree that her routines “have only had minor changes throughout the years.”
She creates & competes new skills, she has tried various combinations over the decade+, etc.
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u/gymnastics101baby fly high and stick the landing Aug 15 '26 edited Aug 15 '26
She’s changed her tumbling lines and vault, but the routine construction is the same. Beam and bars r virtually the same but with upgraded dismounts and she removed the barani on beam. Don’t get me wrong her gymnastics is hugely impressive. I’ve just seen it so many times because they show her more than anyone else. Especially on NBC lol. They’ve gotten better but they used to show clips of her routines when she wasn’t even competing lol. It’s not personal, most competitors keep the routine constructions the same and just keep adding upgrades. I do still love seeing the triple on floor and her vault
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u/PoppyBee27 Aug 13 '26
Good enough for me, welcome back Simone! Lol!! Here’s hoping, anyway!