ANTWERP, Belgium – The queen of gymnastics, Simone Biles, continues to create history, grabbing her fourth gold at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on Sunday, October 8, 2023.
This comes after her triumph in the floor exercise, marking a successful return to international competition post her two-year hiatus.
Even with a slight penalty for stepping out of bounds during her routine, the sheer complexity and excellence of Biles’ performance put her well ahead of the competition, namely the second-placed Rebeca Andrade.
Her victory on the floor brings her tally to an awe-inspiring 23 world championship gold medals. Earlier in the day, Biles showcased her brilliance, clinching gold in the beam competition.
Though Saturday saw the 26-year-old facing some rare challenges, securing silver in the vault and a fifth-place finish on the uneven bars, she rebounded remarkably on Sunday. In the beam event, she garnered a score of 14.800, narrowly outperforming China’s Zhou Yaqin by 0.100.
Biles’ consistent excellence throughout the championships reaffirmed her status as the most decorated gymnast, male or female, ever. Her triumphant comeback is noteworthy, especially considering her struggle with the “twisties” during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Biles commenced her championship campaign capturing gold in both the women’s team and all-around events. The latter secured her position as the record-holder for the most world titles in the all-around.
Saturday’s uneven bars performance didn’t go as expected for the gymnastic superstar. Still, she regained her signature composure and finesse on Sunday, dazzling fans and judges alike.
Her beam routine was a testament to her skill and dedication, meeting all of the judges’ criteria with the precision and flair that’s synonymous with a Biles performance. While Zhou Yaqin delivered a commendable act, she trailed Biles by a mere 0.1 points.
Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, still basking in her recent vault gold, sealed her day with a bronze in the beam.
But the day was far from over for Biles. She returned to the floor later, delivering a near-perfect routine, filled with her signature bounce and precision, landing her another gold.
With this, Biles’ extraordinary tally reaches 30 career medals at the world championships, including 23 gold, four silver, and three bronze. In total, across both the Olympics and the world championships, she has amassed a record-breaking 37 medals, further cementing her legacy as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
