Simone Biles performs in front of her mom and NFL husband at Paris Olympics preparations

Simone Biles received an emotional response from her mother and NFL star Jonathan Owens at the US Championships as the gymnast stepped up her preparations for the Paris Olympics with a new title in the books.

In front of a sold-out crowd that included Owens sitting front row in Fort Worth, Texas, the 27-year-old Biles put on a four-rotation clinic on Sunday that had all the hallmarks of a typical performance.

She displayed breathtaking athleticism mixed with precision and more than a touch of swagger, in front of her breathless mother, Nellie.

Six months ago, Owens — a safety for the Chicago Bears — revealed he had no idea who the four-time Olympic gold medalist was when they first started dating in 2020, sparking backlash on social media.

Nevertheless, at the end of this weekend, Biles recorded a two-day all-around total of 119.750, nearly six points ahead of runner-up Skye Blakely.

Biles’ mother and husband were both impressed by the athleticism and precision of the gymnast, Sun.

It left little doubt that she appears prepared to add a second all-around Olympic gold, in addition to the gold she captured in 2016.

Biles also finished with the highest two-day score on all four events – something she had done only once before at the national championships (2018) – to build enough momentum ahead of the Olympic Trials later this month in Minneapolis.

Her only misstep on Sunday was on vault. She came up short on her Yurchenko double pike — two backflips with her hands clasped behind both knees — during the warm-up and overcompensated when it counted, generating so much force that she ended up on her back.

She still received a sum of 15,000 for her effort, testament to a jump never completed by any other woman in the competition and only attempted by a select group of men.

Not that it bothered her. Biles collected herself, took a few deep breaths and then followed up with a Cheng jump that was rewarded with a 15.1 and put a ninth national title within reach, heady territory as no other gymnast in the history of the sport has competed in the USA more than seven.

Owens and Biles dated in 2020. Pictured during a Packers playoff game in January.

Biles is a four-time Olympic gold medalist. In 2016, she crashed onto the world stage in Rio

While Biles remains above the fray as usual, there is plenty of competition for the other four spots in the five-woman US team who will head to Paris as heavy favorites to return to the top of the podium after losing three times in Tokyo finished second behind Russia. years ago.

Blakely, 19, put in another impressive performance and will head to Minneapolis with plenty of momentum.

Three years after her bid to make the 2020 Olympic team ended with an injury, Blakely is peaking at the right time.

Suni Lee, the 2020 Olympic champion who has spent the past year battling kidney problems that have limited her training, shook off an early mistake on vault and put together elegant routines on uneven bars and balance beam that few in the world have — even Biles – can match.

She wants to add a second all-round Olympic gold, in addition to the gold she won in 2016

Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey are in the mix, although both fell on beam Sunday.

Third-place finisher Kayla DiCello slid off the uneven bars. Leanne Wong, who may have looked tired after a long season in Florida, also suffered some uncharacteristic errors.

Shilese Jones, considered the best all-around gymnast in the U.S. without the last name Biles, withdrew from the championships on Friday, citing a shoulder injury, although she said on Sunday she was feeling better and plans to be available for trials.

That includes 18-year-old Kaliya Lincoln, who opted not to compete on Sunday after making some adjustments during Friday night’s opening session.

Both – if healthy – appear to be serious contenders for an invitation to Paris (particularly Jones). If not, the door could be wide open for others and test the depth the senior elite program has been pushing for for years.