Olympic Gymnast Chellsie Memmel Defends Simone Biles, Suni Lee Comeback Bids

The Comeback Debate Nobody Saw Coming

Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Jade Carey already have Olympic gold. They've felt the weight of an Olympic final and walked away with medals to prove it. So why are they lacing back up for LA28? That's the question fueling a fresh debate in gymnastics circles — and former Olympic medalist Chellsie Memmel isn't having it.

Speaking out in support of the veterans, Memmel pushed back on the idea that decorated athletes should step aside once they've had their moment. "I don't think we should tell somebody that they have to stop a sport that they love," she said. "It's a competitive sport, and if there is the want and the drive to try again, I don't think we should tell somebody that they can't do something."

Why Memmel's Take Carries Weight

This isn't just an opinion from the sidelines. Memmel, a 2008 Olympic silver medalist, knows the comeback grind personally. After nine years away from competitive gymnastics, she returned in 2021 at age 32, competing at the U.S. Classic and later at the U.S. Championships. Her comeback didn't end in Tokyo glory — she finished 25th and missed the Olympic team — but she proved a point that still resonates today: age and past medals shouldn't be the deciding factor in whether an athlete gets to keep competing.

The Bigger Picture for LA28

Suni Lee and Jade Carey are already back in the gym training. Biles, for her part, has left the door open for another Olympic run in Los Angeles. If any or all of them make the LA28 team, it would mark one of the most star-studded returns in modern gymnastics history — a roster blending proven champions with the next wave of rising talent.

Critics argue veterans take spots that could go to younger gymnasts hungry for their first shot. Supporters, including Memmel, argue that Olympic selection is supposed to be about who's best on the day, not who's "had their turn." It's a tension that shows up across every Olympic sport, but it hits differently in gymnastics, where careers are historically short and athletes are often written off before they hit their mid-20s.

What Happens Next

Nothing is decided yet. Lee and Carey are training, Biles hasn't committed either way, and LA28 selection is still years out. But the conversation Memmel is having now is exactly the one gymnastics fans will keep having as these athletes edge closer to a decision — and it's one worth watching regardless of which way it breaks.