A 15-year-old rising U.S. gymnast and Olympic hopeful has opened up about what greatness looks like thanks to working alongside seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles.
Tiana Sumanasekera, the 2023 Pan American Gymnastics Championships women’s all-around winner, said that part of what it takes to be the best in the world is to simply be kind.
“[Biles] comes into the gym to train sometimes, and, you know, it’s so cool training and being next to the best gymnast in the world, of course,” said Sumanasekera said during a press briefing. “She’s just the most down to earth person and she’s so supportive, so sweet, always cheering for her team-mates and always saying hi to everybody. It’s just so surreal. So, I love her. She’s awesome.”
She further added that training alongside Biles has rubbed off on her in a good way, clinching the win at the senior international debut at the Pan Ams.
“It was so much fun. I didn’t really know what to expect because it was my first international meet as a senior,” she said. “So I was just very excited to be named to the team and compete internationally, again. I just wanted to go out there and hit all my routines and that’s what I did. So, I was just very happy with how I performed and the outcome.”
Sumanasekera added that working will Biles has better prepared her for this August’s U.S. Classic in the Chicagoland, where she teased that she will debut advanced features of her performance including a double-double on the floor exercise.
“The double-double we’re going to put in because I’ve had it for a long time,” said Sumanasekera. “We were ready to put it in for Winter Cup. But, you know, getting injured was pretty, pretty hard. So I’m excited to put that in for Classics, and I’m ready to complete it.”
The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are just around the corner and the top three women’s all-around at last year’s U.S. Gymnastics Championships have been announced. They include U.S. champion Konnor McClain, 2022 World all-around silver medallist Shilese Jones, and Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist Jordan Chiles.
“Honestly, it’s an amazing thing, just being able to be here and just feel the environment and everything like that,” Chiles told NBC. “I’m beyond excited. I can’t wait to push towards a huge goal that all three of us have.”
McClain added: “It feels like a milestone. I’ve been training 17 years for this. I said on The Steve Harvey Show that I wanted to be here and I’m one year away, so I’m excited.”
