Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sunisa Lee: Can USA Gymnastics have its own ‘Dream Team’ at Paris 2024? – Olympics

Patterson is right.

Returning to the Games after taking all-around gold is difficult and something that hadnt been done by any female winner since the legendary Nadia Comaneci returned to the 1980 Games after securing the all-around crown four years earlier in Montreal.

Douglas and Biles did the same more than 30 years later.

Liukin and Patterson say part of the challenge that comes with returning to the sports biggest stage is the way life changed after their golden triumphs as a new world of opportunity opens up.

I didnt see what happens after you win an Olympic gold medal [as a kid], explained Patterson. So, when that happened for me, I truly did not know what to expect or what life was going to look like after the Olympics.

I thought I was going to go home and go right back into the gym and just keep doing what I always did because that was my life and all I knew was being in the gym every day," she continued. "When I got home, I realised, Oh, life is really different.

While Douglas, Biles and Lee all enjoyed their moments in the sun following their Olympic triumphs, each found their way back to the sport with Douglas continuing to the Rio Games, Biles returning for the Tokyo Games and Lee competing first in collegiate gymnastics before returning to elite competition last summer.

Each has hinted at a love for the sport - and unfinished business.

I think you obviously have to have a passion if you want to continue going, especially after youve reached the pinnacle of what you can do in your sport, said Patterson. The passion definitely has to be there for you to continue after something like that.

Liukin, who attempted to make the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, agreed: I still loved the sport, that love has never gone away or changed, she said of her careers continuation. What I struggled with the most was, 'wait, just because I achieved that thing, which Im so proud of why is that I need to now move on or why is it expected that you do it and youre done?'

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Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles, and Sunisa Lee: Can USA Gymnastics have its own 'Dream Team' at Paris 2024? - Olympics