It looks like Simone Biles is in no mood to joke around. The Core Hydration Classic will serve as the stepping stone for the upcoming Olympics, and the 27-year-old is eying another major medal-hauling run on her third appearance on the biggest stage. In Connecticut, to show just how much she means business, Biles even went for a dangerous move that her former trainer Cecile Landi isn’t particularly fond of.

Biles is one of the world’s foremost gymnasts and has several moves named after her. And yet, her strive to perfect the Yurchenko Double Pike has remained a constant struggle because of regular point deductions every time Simone attempted the move last season. While the deduction rule infuriated her coach, Simone had her own plans for the Core Hydration.

Simone Biles does it, without the pillar

A recent post by Scott Bregmen on X triumphantly shared news of Biles’ daring move at the XL Center in Hartford. “Biles bounds out of the Yurchenko double pike“, announces the post ecstatically. However, fans of the Olympic gold medalist will remember that her coach, Laurent Landi, regularly stood like a pillar on the mats whenever Simone went for the dangerous move. This was to ensure Simone’s safety in case of a fall. However, this time, things were very different.

Simone started off her night with a spectacular floor routine, earning a jaw-dropping 14.800, earning her first place in the event. However, when she rotated onto the vaults, fans waited with batted breath as Simone eyed to make a statement with the eponymous skill.

The national sensation landed with a wobble but still was awarded 15.600 because of the sheer difficulty of the move. Noting how the Core Hydration was a new feather on Simone’s already decorated hat, the post also noted that this was the “first time since 2021 that she’s competed it without Laurent Landi standing on the podium.”

Biles’ score on the vault was the highest individual score from the competition. With 59.500 on the scoreboard, the reigning world champion walked away from the event with the all-around title. While fans breathed a collective sigh of relief after Simone’s performance, many would do well to remember this isn’t the only dumb rule that continues to infuriate gymnasts and connoisseurs alike.

From confounding rules to a tumultuous Core Hydration Classic: Something for everyone

The sport of gymnastics is considered an elite one and is regulated through multiple stringent rules set in place. However, some of these rules often irk fans to no end. Points can be deducted for not saluting the judges before the start of their routines, or even if a gymnast takes too long to warm up. On the other hand, leotards continue to be one of the most debated and controversial topics when it comes to women’s gymnastics, thanks to words like “elegant,” “proper,” and “modest” being used to describe the uniforms in the rule book. While these rules are justifiably been questioned in recent years, they didn’t end up stealing the spotlight at the Core Hydration Classic.

Along with Simone Biles, Olympic gold medalist, Suni Lee also dished out impeccable performances on the vault with a full Yurchenk and earning a modest 13.150. With 13.000, Lee’s floor didn’t go all that well. On the uneven bars too, Lee performed quite well. Simone’s sensational all-around performance was followed by Shilese Jones (57.650) and Jordan Chiles (55.450), while Jade Carey picked up the fourth-place finish despite having a tumble during her floor routine. On the other hand, Gabby Douglas’ possibility of making it to Paris ended after she withdrew from the competition after disastrous scores early into the night. Which of these gymnasts’ performances did you enjoy the most? Tell us in the comments!