1 of 2 | Simone Biles achieves an incredible feat for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team by securing their seventh consecutive gold medal at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. Photo by Olivier Matthys/EPA-EFE
Oct. 4 (UPI) — In a moment of undeniable brilliance, Simone Biles leads the U.S. women’s gymnastics team to an emphatic victory, earning her 20th gold medal and solidifying their place as the champions of the world. This achievement comes after her two-year break from competition, emphasizing her unrivaled dedication and talent.
Biles, 26, delivered a flawless floor routine in the final event of the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Antwerp, Belgium. Her exceptional performance was crucial in clinching the team’s victory, especially after teammate Joscelyn Roberson suffered an injury during warmups.
Leanne Wong courageously substituted for Roberson in the vault and floor exercises, while Skye Blakely and Shilese Jones showcased their skills to round out the formidable team.
In the first three apparatus, Biles displayed her exceptional talent with scores of 14.800 in the vault, 14.466 on the bars, and 14.300 on the beam. However, it was her final performance on the floor that left the audience in awe. Smiling throughout her routine, Biles soared to incredible heights during her three tumbling passes, executing perfect landings.
With an overall score of 167.729, Biles’ outstanding performance secured Team USA’s coveted spot on the podium. Brazil claimed the silver medal, their first-ever team medal at the world championships, while France took home the bronze.
“It was a night of nail-biting competition and historic moments as the U.S. Women clinched their seventh-consecutive team Gold Medal at the Artistic World Championships!” USA Gymnastics wrote in a celebratory post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Following the conclusion of the 2020 Summer Olympic games in Tokyo, Biles took a well-deserved two-year break from competition to prioritize her mental health. She faced immense pressure and struggled with the “twists” gymnasts encounter in their routines, ultimately withdrawing from several finals at the games. Biles did, however, win a bronze medal in the balance beam event.
As Biles continues her journey towards the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, she moves one step closer to becoming the most-decorated gymnast of all time. Her impressive collection of 33 medals, including 26 world medals, showcases her extraordinary talent and consistency. With her 34th victory, Biles will surpass all gymnasts in history, according to USA Today.
“Everything that we’re doing leading up to Paris 2024 is very intentional,” Biles told NBC in a recent interview. “We’ve kind of been playing it on the down-low this time, making sure both mentally and physically, we are in prime condition.”
