26-year-old US Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, announced her return to international competition in style by claiming a record sixth World All-Round title at the 52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, on Friday, 6 October 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium.
The sensational comeback took place in the Antwerp Sportpaleis, the same arena where a relatively unknown and untested Biles won her first World All-Around title 10 years ago.
Six World All-Around titles ties Biles with Uchimura Kohei (Japan), who won six straight between 2009 and 2015, but she is the only woman ever to win more than three. It also gives her a combined 34 World and Olympic medals, the most of any gymnast in history.
“The gold medal means everything,” Biles said.
“It means strength, courage, the fight, tenacity. It has been such a long journey to get back here and feel comfortable and confident to compete again.”
Six World All-Around titles winner, USA Gymnastics Star Simone Biles
One decade, two Olympiads and 33 World and Olympic medals later, much has changed in the 26-year-old’s life, but on Friday her Gymnastics was the same as it has always been: big, consistent, and breathtaking. Everything we have come to expect from Biles.
On Vault, she showed a solid Cheng (roundoff, half on, front layout 1.5 twist off). She performed steadily on Uneven Bars, then improvised after breaking a connection on her new switch leap mount on Balance Beam. She nailed the rest of the routine
She ended her evening on Floor Exercise. Biles momentarily tripped and lost her rhythm towards the end of her routine, but her four tumbling passes were as phenomenal as ever. The combination of twists, tumbles, twirls and whirls on all four routines gave her the winning combined total of 58.399 points.
“Leave it to me!” Biles laughed afterward. “I am actually this clumsy outside the gym but it usually doesn’t happen in the gym, so I am a little bit shocked that this happened.”
The competition continues in Antwerp till Sunday 8 October 2023.
Photo Caption: 26-year-old US Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles has made a resounding return to international competition, claiming a record sixth World All-Round title at the 52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, on Friday, 6 October 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium. File photo: Team USA / Simone Biles on Facebook
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