Simone Biles and the Team USA gymnasts will make their 2024 Olympic debut this weekend, kicking off what is expected to be one of the most-watched competitions of the Games.
Joining Biles, who missed the Opening Ceremony festivities to prepare, will be Midwest star Suni Lee and Chicago-area gymnast Paul Juda, among others, as the gymnastics competition officially begins.
All eyes will be on Biles as she returns to the Olympic stage after shocking the world by withdrawing from one of her final events at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Biles made headlines at the 2020 competition when she discovered she had dyskinesia and withdrew from the team final and individual all-around to focus on her mental health. However, she bounced back before the competition ended and took home a bronze medal on balance beam and a silver medal in the team event.
After a two-year hiatus, Biles, 27, has proven to be just as dominant in her return to the international stage in 2023 as she was in her first Olympics in 2016. She won the individual all-around title at the world gymnastics championships in October and breezed through last month’s U.S. Olympic trials.
She is now aiming to achieve an unprecedented Olympic performance. She is even expected to debut a new skill that has never been performed before at the Games.
On the women’s side, the team includes Biles, Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carrey and Hezley Rivera.
Biles’ husband, a Chicago Bears player, will be at the Games to cheer her on.
The men’s team features Deerfield native Judah alongside Brody Malone, Frederick Richard, Asher Hong and Stephen Nedoroscik.
A draw earlier this year placed the women’s team in the second subdivision for the qualifying round, and the men’s team in the first subdivision. After qualifying, the top teams will compete in the team finals, with the top athletes in the all-around and each event also competing in those finals.
Here’s the complete guide to watching one of the most anticipated sports of the Games.
July 27
Sport: Qualification in Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (USA Subdivision 1)
When the event occurs: 4 a.m. Central Time
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins at 4 a.m. CT on NBC 5. It will replay in prime time at 8 p.m. CT on NBC 5.
Who to watch: Paul Juda, Frédéric Richard
July 28
Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Qualifications (USA Subdivision 2)
When the event occurs: Competition begins at 2:30 a.m. CT; American Subdivision begins at 4:40 a.m. CT
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins on E! at 4:45 a.m., on NBC 5 at 5:00 a.m. CT, on E! at 7:50 a.m. and once again at 11:00 a.m.; primetime coverage airs on NBC 5 at 6:00 p.m.
Who to watch: Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee
July 29
Sport: Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final*
When the event occurs: 10:30 a.m. (Central Time)
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins on NBC 5 at 10:30 a.m. CT; the event will be rebroadcast in prime time starting at 7 p.m. CT
Who to watch: Paul Juda
July 30
Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final*
When the event occurs: 11:15 a.m. (Central Time)
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins on NBC 5 at 11:15 a.m. CT; it will be rebroadcast in prime time starting at 7 p.m.
Who to watch: Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee
July 31
Event: Men’s All-Around Final
When it happens: 10:30 a.m. (Central Time)
When it will be broadcast: 10:30 a.m. CT on NBC 5
Local athletes to watch: Paul Juda, Frederick Richard (if qualified)
1st of August
Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics All-Around Final
When the event occurs: 11:15 a.m. (Central Time)
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins at 11:15 a.m. CT on NBC 5 and again in primetime at 7 p.m. CT
Who to watch: Simone Biles, Suni Lee (If they are qualified)
August 3
Sport: Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final*
When the event occurs: 8:30 a.m. (Central Time)
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins on E! starting at 8:15 a.m. CT; the final events will air on NBC 5 at 3:30 p.m. and again in primetime at 7 p.m.
Who to watch: Paul Juda or Frédéric Richard (If qualified)
Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Vault Final*
When the event occurs: 9:20 a.m. (Central Time)
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins on E! starting at 8:15 a.m. CT; the final events will air on NBC 5 at 3:30 p.m. and again in primetime at 7 p.m.
Who to watch: Simone Biles or Suni Lee (If qualified)
Sport: Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Pommel Horse Final*
When the event occurs: 5:10 p.m. (Central Time)
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins on E! starting at 8:15 a.m. CT; the final events will air on NBC 5 at 3:30 p.m. and again in primetime at 7 p.m.
Who to watch: Paul Juda or Frédéric Richard (If qualified)
August 4th
Sport: Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Rings Final*
When the event occurs: 8:00 a.m. Central Time
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins at 8 a.m. on NBC 5; it will re-air in prime time starting at 6 p.m. CT
Who to watch: Paul Juda or Frédéric Richard (If qualified)
Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Uneven Bars Final
When the event occurs: 8:40 CT
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins at 8 a.m. on NBC 5; it will re-air in prime time starting at 6 p.m. CT
Who to watch: Simone Biles or Suni Lee (If qualified)
Sport: Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Vault Final
When the event occurs: 9:24 a.m. (Central Time)
When it will be broadcast: Coverage begins at 8 a.m. on NBC 5; it will re-air in prime time starting at 6 p.m. CT
Who to watch: Paul Juda or Frédéric Richard (If qualified)
5 August
Sport: Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Parallel Bars Final
When the event occurs: 04:45 (Central Time)
When it will be broadcast: The broadcast begins at 4:45 a.m. CT on E! and on NBC 5 starting at 8:30 a.m. CT. It will re-air in prime time on NBC 5 starting at 7 p.m.
Who to watch: Paul Juda or Frédéric Richard (If qualified)
Sport: Women’s artistic gymnastics beam final
When the event occurs: 5:38 a.m. Central Time
When it will be broadcast: The broadcast begins at 4:45 a.m. CT on E! and on NBC 5 starting at 8:30 a.m. CT. It will re-air in prime time on NBC 5 starting at 7 p.m.
Who to watch: Simone Biles or Suni Lee (If qualified)
Sport: Men’s Artistic Gymnastics High Bar Final
When the event occurs: 6:33 CT
When it will be broadcast: The broadcast begins at 4:45 a.m. CT on E! and on NBC 5 starting at 8:30 a.m. CT. It will re-air in prime time on NBC 5 starting at 7 p.m.
Who to watch: Paul Juda or Frédéric Richard (If qualified)
Sport: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise Final
When the event occurs: 07:23 CT
When it will be broadcast: The broadcast begins at 4:45 a.m. CT on E! and on NBC 5 starting at 8:30 a.m. CT. It will re-air in prime time on NBC 5 starting at 7 p.m.
Who to watch: Simone Biles or Suni Lee (If qualified)
NBC Chicago
