Biles 'getting old' but tempted by Los Angeles Olympics

Simone Biles said she may be "getting old" but is tempted to compete in her home Olympic Games in Los Angeles at the age of 31 after vaulting to a third gymnastics gold in Paris on Saturday (Aug 3).

The US gymnastics great took control with her opening vault, the Yurchenko double pike now named the Biles II - a double somersault with her body in a piked position.

"Is this my last (vault)? Definitely the Yurchenko double pike. I've kind of nailed that one," the 27-year-old told journalists. 

"Never say never. The next Olympics is at home, so you just never know, but I am getting really old," she smiled.

The Texan now has seven gold medals, having won four at the Rio Games.

She withdrew from multiple events in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo three years ago to focus on her mental health.

"I think we're both still a little bit traumatised by Tokyo," said Biles, sitting alongside US teammate Jade Carey who took bronze.

"After all these years of putting the mental work in, it's paid off. I'm super excited to be on this stage again".

In Paris, Biles has now won gold in the team, all-around and vault and could add two more on the balance beam and floor exercise on Monday.

She failed to qualify for Sunday's uneven bars final.

Biles said negative comments after Tokyo were "painful up to a certain point".

"They hurt, but I'm still in therapy working on all that, to make sure my mental health is well, but they (the critics) are really quiet now, so that's strange," she laughed.

"The Olympics is such a draining process for the athletes, and it's multiple days of competition, so you definitely have to be on top of your mental as well as physical (health)".

"So as long as we're doing that, then we're good. And so far I feel good". 

Defending vault