ST. LOUIS — A sea of cellphones rose in the stands at the Dome at America’s Center, focused on the showstopping gymnast below, Simone Biles. Ushers and other event staff members poured in from the concourse to the edge of the stands to get a peek at her.
They wanted to see her, film her, appreciate her in some way on the day she finished first at the U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics trials, as expected, and earned a spot on her second Olympic team, as expected. In Tokyo, she will defend her Olympic all-around title from the 2016 Games.