via Wikimedia
Simone Biles just nailed what could be her last appearance at a world championship outside of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Her all-around performance earned her 5 gold medals, which brought her total medal count to 25, securing her spot in gymnastics history as the greatest of all time.
Crowds gawked at her performance during the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Stuttgart, Germany from October 4 - 13. And with her latest feat of logic-defying acrobatics, both she and the world continues to wonder just who can beat her.
After all, she’s not just winning… she’s smoking her competition by huge margins. “Biles won last year’s world all-around title by a record 1.693 points,” NBC Sports writer Nick Zaccardi reported. “Despite falling twice and competing with a kidney stone. She is undefeated in all-arounds for six years. Thursday[‘s championship success] marks the fifth anniversary of the last time anybody was within one point of Biles in a single day of official all-around competition.”
While it’s clear that even on her worst days, her competition can’t keep up, that doesn’t stop her from challenging herself to perform high difficulty stunts. Over the course of five years, Biles has trained and flawlessly landed three jaw-dropping, unprecedented moves that now bear her name.
There is the “Biles” (her signature double layout with a half-turn), the “Biles II” (a triple-double with a double backflip and three twists, thrown during floor routines), and the “Biles” (roundoff half-on, front layout double twist thrown on vault).
Now, her latest stunt, the double-twisting double backflip dismount off the balance beam performed at the Stuttgart meet, will be named the “Biles” as well if the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) approves.
What’s also wonderful to see is her humble awe at her own star power, yet confident certainty in her dominance as she reflects on the facts.
“It’s not out of cockiness,” she told USA Today. “I’ve won five world titles and if I say, ‘I’m the best gymnast there is,’ [the reaction is] ‘Oh, she’s cocky. Look at her now.’ No, the facts are literally on the paper.”
This kind of pride in herself and the accomplishments she’s worked so hard to achieve shows young girls how to be unapologetic winners.
“It’s important to teach our female youth that it’s OK to say, ‘Yes, I am good at this,’ and you don’t hold back,” Biles said. “You only see the men doing it. And they’re praised for it and the women are looked down upon for it. But I feel like it’s good (to do) because once you realize you’re confident and good at it, then you’re even better at what you do.”
The Irish Times and others have reported that the star athlete intends for the Tokyo Olympics to be her final major competition. If that’s her plan, we can’t wait to savor her mesmerizing athleticism one final time.