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If one were to strictly tally the number of records and beyond, is Simone Biles really the most decorated gymnast? A decade has passed since Biles won her first U.S. crown at the 2013 Worlds, rocketing her to the pinnacle of gymnastics. The last time she stepped into the mats, Biles edged Brazilian Rebeca Andrade, the reigning global all-around champion. Biles took the title for the sixth time at the Worlds, taking home five medals from six events. Further, her domination was confirmed when USA Gymnastics recorded more than 35 international medals (Worlds and Olympics) under her name.
Astonishingly, in only ten years, Simone cemented her position among the most influential female trailblazers in the archives of artistic gymnastics. She entered an unmatched league this year; Which is noteworthy since Google recognizes her status as the greatest gymnast of all time— a claim maybe supported by her flurry of medals.
Simone Biles and the major records
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Since making her debut in 2013, Simone continued to rule the gymnastics world. Furthering the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. She surpassed Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina far off in the Worlds medal tally with a notable 10-medal count. Now Simone’s global competition count is 37(Worlds and Olympics)! Earlier, the 7X Olympic medalist also outperformed former gymnast Vitaly Scherbo’s 23 Worlds record by winning gold at the 2019 meet. Interestingly, this year wasn’t Biles’s first triumphant comeback. After her three straight Worlds all-around titles from 2013 to 2015, she won another straight-around gold medal in Rio.
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 09: Simone Biles of the United States poses for photographs with her gold medal after the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
After a break, she returned in 2018, making a headline-worthy comeback at the U.S. Championships by taking home five gold medals. This was a feat no gymnast had accomplished in more than a decade, not since Dominique Dawes won the U.S. championships in 1994. She is the first gymnast since 1996 to hold both championships simultaneously, and just the sixth woman to win individual all-around crowns at the World Championships and the Olympics. In addition, she completed an incredible achievement at the 2018 World Championships in Doha by becoming the first American and tenth female gymnast to win a world medal in every event, a record that was previously held in 1988.
She won her fourth all-around title and medals in all six categories in the World Championships the same year. With fourteen gold medals, Biles led the record for the most medals won by a female gymnast worldwide. Since then, Khorkina was second with her twenty medals. Even after an unfortunate incident at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics marred her vaulting performance, Biles remained one of the best vaulters ever. After a two-year hiatus, she returned to the quest with a resolute desire. Her unwavering devotion was demonstrated by her consistent medal haul as well as her invention of remarkable moves, which highlight her desire to push the boundaries of the sport.
Biles named moves—you need to know!
As a trailblazer in the gymnastics industry, Simone Biles has six techniques bearing her name. Her double layout salto with a half-twist on the floor exercise, which she debuted at the 2013 World Championships. Similar to the Yurchenko double pike, Biles performed it for the first time in the 2018 World Championships, with a difficulty rating of 6.4.
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 25: Simone Biles competes in the balance beam during Day Two of the U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center on August 25, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Her double-twisting, double-tucked salto dismount off the balancing beam, which she demonstrated at the 2019 US National Championships, also marked another milestone for her. It received the highest difficulty grade in the balance beam category—H. Biles also performed the Biles II at the 2019 U.S. National Championships. This technique, which stands out for its intricacy, has a difficulty level of J. Before Biles, only three gymnasts had been able to do it successfully.
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In addition, at the 2021 U.S. Classics, she executed the Yurchenko double pike—a vault maneuver with a beginning difficulty rating of 6.6—becoming the first woman to do so. The Yurchenko double pike was officially recognized as the Biles after her outstanding performance at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. With all her efforts and winning records, it’s really up to the world to decide; Is Biles really the G.O.A.T of all time?
Watch this story In Her Latest Heartfelt Gesture, Simone Biles Gives the Toast to Another NFL Wifey on Her Special Day