MOST DECORATED GYMNAST, HEADING
TO HER THIRD OLYMPICS, THE GOAT,
SIMONE BILES.
>> AND JOINING US FROM WHERE ALL
THE ACTION TOOK PLACE IN
MINNEAPOLIS, IS OUR GYMNASTICS
ANALYST LORI HERNANDEZ.
GOOD MORNING.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING.
HOW IS IT GOING?
>> IT’S GOOD.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN A FUN NIGHT
THERE.
TAKE US INSIDE THE ARENA.
SIMONE BILES STEPS UP FOR HER
FLOOR ROUTINE.
IT’S SAID SHE SOARED 12 FEET UP
IN THE AIR DURING HER FIRST
TUMBLING PASS.
WHAT IS THAT MOMENT LIKE?
>> THE ENERGY IN THE ARENA WAS
JUST PHENOMENAL, UNLIKE ANYTHING
I HAVE PERSONALLY FELT BEFORE.
I HAVE BEEN TO TRIALS BEFORE.
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE AND
ATMOSPHERE TO BE A PART OF.
>> WE HAVE NEVER HAD A SEEM LIKE
THIS BEFORE.
WHAT DID YOU SEE FROM SUNI LEE,
ALL-AROUND CHAMPION.
SHE SUFFERED THROUGH SIGNIFICANT
HEALTH ISSUES.
FOR US, I FELT LIKE I WAS
ROOTING FOR HER EVEN MORE.
>> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY.
I SAW LOTS OF COURAGE AND
PERSEVERANCE FROM HER.
THE FACT SHE’S ABLE TO BE HERE,
TO BE A HEALTHY ATHLETE AND TO
HAVE SO MUCH JOY IN THE
COMPETITION AND OF COURSE
DOMINATE, THAT’S A GOOD SIGN.
>> YES.
I READ THIS IS THE MOST
DECORATED SQUAD THAT WE HAVE
EVER HAD GOING INTO THE OLYMPIC
GAMES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE
CHAMPIONS, THEY HAVE COMBINED
JADE CAREY AS WELL, JORDAN
CHILES, NO STRANGERS TO THE
PRESSURES OF THE OLYMPIC STAGE.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THEM THAT MAKES
THEM PARTICULARLY DESERVING OF
THIS OPPORTUNITY?
>> Reporter: IT’S THEIR
EXPERIENCE.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ALMOST A
REPEAT TEAM FROM TOKYO IS NOT
ONLY EXCITING BECAUSE THEY KNOW
EACH OTHER, THERE IS A LOT OF
COMRADERY AND FRESH EYES AND
FRESH EXPERIENCES TO BE OUT
THERE ON THE FLOOR.
I KNOW THEY WILL MAKE SURE SHE’S
OKAY AND SHE’S FEELING GOOD OUT
THERE BECAUSE SHE DESERVES TO BE
ON THAT TEAM AS MUCH AS ANYBODY
THERE.
WHAT A FEAT FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE
OF THEM.
>> TO THAT POINT, WHAT WILL SHE
BRING TO THIS TEAM?
>> Reporter: SHE’S GOING TO
BRING A LOT OF CONSISTENCY AND
CLEAN GYMNASTICS.
INTERNATIONALLY, I THINK SHE
WILL SCORE VERY WELL.
BEING 16 YEARS OLD, BEING FROM
NEW JERSEY FEELS LIKE A FAMILIAR
STORY.
>> SHE’S 16.
>> Reporter: HOW EXCITING SHE
WILL GET THIS EXPERIENCE AND
HOPEFULLY SHE WILL GET TO BE A
PART OF THE NEXT GROUP AS WELL.
>> SHIFTING GEARS, THE MEN HOPE
TO MEDAL FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE 2008.
HERE’S FREDERICK RICHARD WHO WON
THE ALL-AROUND.
WE’LL GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
OTHER SIDE.
>> I BELIEVE THESE GUYS A LOT.
>> WE JUST NEED TO KEEP DOING
WHAT WE’RE DOING.
I THINK THE RESULTS THAT WE
SHOWED THIS WEEKEND WOULD
PROBABLY BE ENOUGH.
BUT IT IS ON THAT DAY WHEN THE
PRESSURE IS ON, THE NEXT MONTH
IS PREPARING TO HANDLE THAT
MOMENT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DO THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO
END A 16-YEAR DROUGHT?
>> Reporter: I DO BELIEVE THAT
IF ANY YEAR IS GOING TO BE THE
YEAR WHERE THEY MAKE IT ON THAT
PODIUM, IT IS GOING TO BE THIS
YEAR.
I SAW SHARP GYMNASTICS FROM THE
MEN’S TEAM.
OVERALL, IT SEEMS LIKE THEIR
COMRADERY, EXCITEMENT AND JOY
AND HARD WORK.
>> THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO PROVE.
>> YEAH, THEY DO.
THEY DO.
FOR SURE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE LOVE YOUR INSIGHT, AND WE’RE
EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS ALL
GOES.
THANK YOU.
>> Reporter: THANKS SO MUCH.
SEE YOU AROUND.
>> THE PARIS OLYMPICS ARE
KICKING OFF IN JUST A FEW SHORT
WEEKS.
YOU CAN CATCH ALL THE ACTION ON
NBC AND PEACOCK.
>> WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
GYMNASTICS.
I WAS WATCHING THE SWIMMING
TRIALS.
WE TALKED TO DWYANE WADE ABOUT
THE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM.