Friends and teammates: Simone Biles and Aly Raisman. Image by Getty Images

On Saturday, America’s greatest young athlete returned to her sport after a two-year hiatus: Olympic gymnast Simone Biles competed at the U.S. Classic, winning gold with the hardest routines she has ever done in competition.

Aly Raisman, Biles’ teammate and captain on the 2016 Olympic team, wasn’t competing — she’s busy with her work as a crusader against sexual abuse in sports — but she tweeted her support for Biles from afar. Biles responded with love for her teammate by liking an Olympic Channel clip showcasing their close friendship.

So proud and happy for @Simone_Biles !!!!!! How does she make everything look SO easy?? 😉

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) July 29, 2018

Though Biles, who last competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, only returned to training this November, experts say she is already surpassing her previous abilities. At the Classic, she got the highest score on the floor routine and the vault that any gymnast has gotten in the last four years. Just two weeks ago Biles wasn’t planning in competing in two out of four events. Yet at the competition she beat the second-place gymnast, Riley McCuscker, by a full point.

Here’s her unreal floor performance:

Mazel, Simone!

Jenny Singer is the deputy lifestyle editor for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount