Simone Biles, U.S. gymnastics open Olympics wit upset results in qualifier

TOKYO — At the first postponed Olympics — one happening amid a global pandemic and with protocol and restrictions galore — perhaps it’s fitting the U.S. women’s gymnastics teams first competition in Tokyo didn’t resemble the norm.

At Ariake Gymnastics Centre on Sunday afternoon, the four-gymnast American team finished their qualifying session with a 170.562 team score — 1.067 points behind Russia, which competed in an earlier subdivision.

The U.S. hasn’t lost a women’s gymnastics world or Olympic team competition since 2010 — mostly thanks to Simone Biles’ groundbreaking dominance since 2013.

But even Spring resident Biles faltered in her Tokyo debut, though she still qualified for all five individual finals.

Biles stumbled on her three best events and at times looked so miffed that her expressions would’ve gone viral on social media had the competition not happened overnight in America.

Afterward, the gymnasts and coaches walked past reporters in the mixed zone without stopping, and national team coordinator Tom Forster ended his interview after five minutes by saying, “I’m going to go. I’m done.”

The squad arrived in Japan as the heavy favorite for a third consecutive Olympic team gold medal, but has just two days to regroup before the team final Tuesday night in Tokyo.

“This is not the finals,” Forster said. “This is getting into the finals, so this might be a great awakening for us, and we’ll take advantage of it.”

Biles’ first routine might’ve foreshadowed the inconsistency to come.

The 24-year-old soared through her first two tumbling passes on the floor exercise with her usual power and precision. But on her third pass, Biles rebounded out of her flip and landed fully off the apparatus.