(Minneapolis) Simone Biles is “almost unstoppable”, assures her coach, while the gymnastics superstar will try to win her ticket to Paris during the American selections this week, where the competition to complete the list of five selected women looms fierce.

Biles won his ninth national all-around title earlier this month, winning on all four events at the U.S. Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.

“She is the most talented athlete I have ever worked with and we knew that if she managed to improve her mind and body, she would be almost unstoppable,” says Frenchwoman Cécile Landi, who has trained her since 2017 with her husband Laurent Landi.

She says Biles’ success in managing her mental health, combined with her talent and tremendous work ethic, means the young woman could be stronger than ever for her possible third Olympic appearance (July 26 –August 11).

“I think we always knew she could be even better,” Landi said Wednesday, as the women began training at the Target Center in Minneapolis, where events begin Thursday with the men’s competitions.

Simone Biles dazzled by winning four gold medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, but her participation in 2021 at the Tokyo Games, delayed a year by the pandemic, was cut short when she dropped out due to of a “twisties” attack – a temporary mental block whereby gymnasts lose their sense of direction during jumps.

“All the work she’s done outside of the gym and being 27, being married, means she has other things to do and I think that helps her keep a good balance,” Landi emphasized. “It’s not just gymnastics and I think that keeps him sane.”

Among the 16 competitors competing in Minneapolis is Suni Lee, 21, who won all-around gold and uneven bars bronze in Tokyo and overcame career-threatening kidney disease.

However, doubt surrounds Skye Blakely, double world team champion also looking for a place for Paris, who was injured during floor exercise training on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old gymnast fell on the mat at Target Center and was wheeled away in a wheelchair with an apparent leg injury.