Shawn Johnson says Team USA can win 2028 Olympic golf without Simone Biles

The 2028 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team will be the first to compete at home since 1996. It could also be the first without Simone Biles since 2012.

Balance beam gold medalist Shawn Johnson won one of two U.S. Olympic gold medals in Beijing in 2008, eight years before Biles arrived.

Now, with the Los Angeles Games nearly two years away, Johnson was asked if she thought the United States could win gold if Biles didn’t compete.

“Historically speaking, the United States is the most dominant gymnastics team we’ve ever seen, always. So I have the greatest confidence in the United States gymnastics team,” Johnson told Fox News Digital.

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Team USA gymnasts Simone Biles, left, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey and Sunisa Lee celebrate their gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games, July 30, 2024, in Paris. (Tom Weller/VOIGT/Getty Images)

“Simone is the greatest of all time, she made history forever. And that will never change. But she also set a standard and a precedent for our country that I think will endure forever.”

Johnson plans to be there in Los Angeles to watch in person. When asked which gymnasts she was most looking forward to seeing compete in Los Angeles, Johnson said, “I have so much confidence in all these little ones coming in, and the ones that want to repeat… so all of them.”

With advances in sports science and wellness playing a bigger role than ever in determining which country has a competitive advantage, Johnson revealed the mindset she thinks gymnasts should adopt for their health.

“I would just say to a young gymnast who wants to go to the Olympics to listen to her body. I think a lot of girls, especially in gymnastics, push themselves so much. And it’s really important that you prioritize your health, mental and physical, above all else,” she said.

THE OLYMPICS PLANNED THE TOP WOMEN’S EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME BEFORE THE MEN’S EVENT

Team USA gymnast Shawn Johnson in action during the women’s balance beam final at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. (Al Tielemans/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

The U.S. women’s gymnastics team is coming off a historically poor performance at the World Championships in October, winning just two medals overall and no gold medals.

This is the country’s lowest medal total in an international competition since 2001.

The only two medalists for the United States were Leanne Wong, who won silver in the all-around, and Joscelyn Roberson, who won bronze on vault.

China finished ahead of the United States with three women’s medals, while neutral athletes competing on Russia’s behalf also won three.

“It was difficult,” said Chellsie Memmel, head of the U.S. program, according to Olympics.com. “There were some really good pieces, but then there were some struggles. I didn’t feel like there was an attack on their events and their skills in general. There were still some good things, but I have work to do.

Team USA gymnast Simone Biles salutes after performing on the balance beam at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

This is only the third year since 2006 in which the United States has not finished with the most women’s medals since 2006, with the exception of 2017 and 2021, where it was tied with Japan and Russia for the most.

Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles were notable athletes on the U.S. Paris 2024 team that won three gold medals, including team and all-around, who did not represent the United States at the World Championships.

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Biles did not rule out competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Games, but also said she had taken time off from gymnastics, according to Olympics.com.

“I don’t know what 2028 will look like, but I will be there in some capacity. I just don’t know right now if it will be on the field or in the stands. But I definitely want to go there and be a part of this movement,” Biles said.

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