It’s not every day that Simone Biles, the undisputed queen of gymnastics, is merely a spectator. But at the 2025 U.S. Classic, that’s exactly where she was—watching from the sidelines as Claire Pease, a new face in elite gymnastics, rose to the occasion and claimed the all-around title in jaw-dropping fashion. Could this be the beginning of a new era in American gymnastics? Let’s dive in and explore how the torch might be passing from one legend to the next.
Saturday evening (19 July), seven-time Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles watched competition at the 2025 U.S. Classic from a corner of the arena. The two-time Olympic all-around winner avoided the spotlight at one of the first major U.S. gymnastics competitions since the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which saw reigning U.S. junior champion Claire Pease grab the title with a 54.600 ahead of Simone Rose (54.200) and Joscelyn Roberson (53.250).
For Biles, there was no formal recognition, no ceremony, no media obligations as she stood on the floor near the balance beam to watch former training-mates Roberson and Dulcy Caylor compete. “My lil babiessss,” Biles said in an Instagram story post of the duo. Her presence touched Roberson, who called her “the busiest human ever”. “[Biles] called me, and she was like, ‘Okay, I have this, this and this, but if you really want me there, I’ll be there,’” Roberson told media after competition. “And I was like, ‘I kind of really want you there’. And she’s like, ‘Okay, so it’s done.’”
After the first rotation, Biles found a seat in a lower-level suite where she quickly caught the attention – and cheers – of the crowd. Her long-time coach Cecile Landi, now the University of Georgia co-head coach, joined her there. The two chatted casually throughout the competition. It was a fitting image as the 28-year-old contemplates what’s next for her in both life and the sport. Biles would be 31 when the Games head to Los Angeles in 2028. She hasn’t ruled out a fourth appearance at the global event but hasn’t committed to it either. With Biles on the sideline – literally – a new generation of gymnasts, led by Pease, stepped up.
Pease soared to the top of the all-around standings, powered by top-three finishes on all four events. “[I feel] really good,” she said. “I’m really happy to be here.” It was a bit of a comeback victory for Pease, as Rose, 17, went into the final rotation with a three-and-a-half tenth lead, having started her night with a bang, sticking her one-and-a-half twisting Yurchenko for a 13.800. She added a 13.950 on the uneven bars before putting up a 13.150 on the balance beam.
But Pease, just 16, passed her in the final rotation as she boomed a clean Yurchenko double full for a 14.050 score. Rose’s clean but lower-difficulty floor exercise earned a 13.300, putting her second overall. In her first elite competition since last summer’s Olympic Trials, Roberson, who finished her freshman season at the University of Arkansas in April, was powerful and solid all night. Her highlight came in the form of a nearly wobble-free routine on the balance beam and a dynamic floor exercise performance that had the backing of the crowd.
Biles’ Olympic teammate in Paris, Hezly Rivera, struggled in her opening two rotations, coming up short on her uneven bars dismount and falling off during her acrobatic series on the beam. The errors cost her, as she finished in a tie for 12th place. The event was the final qualifier for next month’s U.S. Championships, set for New Orleans from 7–10 August. Senior women’s athletes scoring a 52.000 or better in the all-around earned automatic qualification to the event.
Claire Pease has arrived—and she’s not just visiting. With grace, power, and humility, she’s proven she belongs on the biggest stages. Simone Biles may still be the GOAT, but she’s now joined by a new force to be reckoned with. As the gymnastics world looks to Paris and beyond, fans can rest easy knowing the next generation is not just ready—they’re already soaring.
