5 Comments
User's avatar
Liberalism Stan's avatar

Return of the Queen

Mark's avatar

Justin,

How does her picking a gym work? Does she shop around for the gym that gives her the most money or does she actually pay to train at the gym? Does she self direct her training or does the coach more or less tell her what to do? Somehow I can't see a gymnastics coach really telling Simone Biles what she needs to work on.

Mark

Justin Lee's avatar

They all have their own coaches. So, like, Team USA may have a head coach, but each gymnast is also bringing their own coaches. And Suni's coaches are Jess and Ali at Midwest and then obviously Jeff is a part of the team as well. Jess and Ali had been Suni's coaches since she was young (and Jeff was always a voice as well because she'd come to Auburn for camps every summer). Suni's a loyal person and wouldn't ditch them — and, obviously, she doesn't have any reason to ditch them because they're the ones who got her to the big dance. I think if a gymnast is going to switch gyms and coaches, that'd happen back when they're 11 or 12 or 13 trying to continue to grow. Suni kept on winning with Midwest, so she never needed to change. Together, their formula works.

Mark's avatar

Thanks Justin,

What gym will she be training in? Will she be re-uniting with the Grabas?

Justin Lee's avatar

Yes, she'll be training with Midwest Gymnastics under Jess Graba. Jeff was also named to the staff at Midwest earlier this spring (though he's also got other stuff going on with the director position with WCGA).