And indeed, it looks like that work is already paying off.
Earlier this summer, Simone made her official return to competitions at the 2023 U.S. Classic in Chicago. As for how she fared during her big return? Well, proving she’s still at the top of her game, And as though the time since Tokyo had been three weeks rather than three years, the most decorated gymnast in the world finished first in the all-around, vault, floor routine and balance beam, and finished third on the uneven bars at the Aug. 4 competition.
“Everyone that was cheering, made posters and all of that in the crowd, it just made my heart melt that they still believe in me,” she said to NBC Sports after the event. “I’m very shocked.”
Just one month later, she made history with her record 8th U.S. championship title in San Jose, CA.
After her success at the Chicago competition, she spoke to her hopes for the national competition in California, “My main goal was this, and then [U.S.] championships, and then after we’ll look onto worlds, and then we’ll see, but so far it’s heading in the right direction.”