Paris, put on a show ✨🥇

Your Olympics essentials.

• What happened yesterday: The U.S. women’s national team notched a 3-0 win over Zambia in group play.

• What’s happening today: The opening ceremony! 1:30 p.m. ET start. Watch on NBC or Peacock.

• The latest medal count: It’s still zero! First medals can be won Saturday.

A word about Simone Biles.

I have to tell you about watching Simone Biles in podium training Thursday.

Podium training is about the gymnasts getting acclimated to the equipment, but also to the equipment being on raised podiums, which can affect how the equipment feels to them. It’s about finding your spots, getting your eyes adjusted to the light, and getting comfortable. (Shoutout to my colleague Nancy Armour for explaining this to me!)

When the U.S. women’s gymnastics team was on vault rotation during training, Biles fired off a Yurchenko double pike and – I cannot emphasize this enough – absolutely nailed It. She nailed her own signature skill so well that the entire row of journalists I was sitting with hollered, one follower on social media telling us they could hear our reaction over the Peacock live stream. You have to watch this magical moment.

I texted one of my best friends, who was a level 10 gymnast when she was younger, and she said what we all already know: "No human should be able to do this. I watched her doc, and she was over rotating this at worlds. Like, how. I cannot describe to you how much harder a double pike is than a tuck, too. Double pike was my hardest skill on floor, and it was scary every time."

Biles herself has said in her documentary, recently released on Netflix, that she is scared every single time she does the skill, called the Biles II. Seeing this in person for the first time, this is now my Roman Empire, what I will be thinking about for a long time.

After Thursday’s session, Nancy asked some of Biles’ coaches about watching her greatness on a regular basis and what it’s like. Read what they said.

Opening ceremony essentials

• What to know about NBC's opening ceremony plans and how to watch.

• NBC’s Mike Tirico will be your host for the opening ceremony (and all of NBC’s primetime coverage). Here’s how he prepares.

• Everything you need to know about Team USA’s Ralph Lauren outfits for the opening ceremony.

• The U.S. will be the second to last team in the parade of nations, as the hosts of the next Summer Games.

• LeBron James and Coco Gauff are the flag bearers.

• Inside how Olympics officials are coordinating security for the opening ceremony and the Games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paris, put on a show ✨🥇