Minutes Before Making History, Simone Biles Faces Major Upset at World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2023

Simone Biles continues to make gymnastics history well into 2023. Each major gymnastics event this year has seen her perform at the highest level. In the team finals of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team faced a few stumbles and even an injury during warm-ups. And yet, they became the first team to claim seven consecutive team titles at the world championships, with Biles leading the charge.

The 26-year-old, who won her very first world gold medal a decade ago at the same venue, added yet another milestone, clinching her 20th gold medal. As the competition shifted to the Women’s All-Around Final on Friday, Biles was just moments away from securing her sixth title, an achievement that would make her the first female gymnast in history to do so. However, in a twist of fate, she encountered a major upset?a hiccup that threatened to derail everything in mere seconds.

Simone Biles faces an unexpected twist and setback

In her final rotation on the floor exercise, Biles executed a full-twisting double layout, encountering a slight lunge back. Her front full-through to double-double was accompanied by a tiny hop, and during the Biles I element, she managed a small hop but maintained her composure.

In a split second, she teetered, almost stumbling. However, she concluded the routine with a Double layout and an impeccable landing, earning a massive 14.533 points. In an interview on the broadcast after the winning routine, Biles gathered her thoughts,?”For some reason, I could not pick up my feet on my leaps, because I actually kicked the ground in my tour jet? leap too.”

Scott Bregman, in a post on X, shared insights into the intense moment, saying, “Biles FX: layout full-out, two-ish steps; front full to double-double, tiny hop. Biles I, small hop and keeps it in. Tripped a bit. Sticks the double layout. Obviously enough. A sixth title and back on top.”

Remarkably, despite the stumble, she gracefully smiled and even shared a laugh with herself, demonstrating the incredible growth she has experienced since her two-year hiatus in 2021. “And then on that one, I just like kicked the ground so bad and I just had to laugh at myself. I was like, am I supposed to do another leap? Because I don’t know the code THAT well. I just do whatever I’m told. So I was like, I think I need to do another leap. And I was like, no, I don’t have time, my music’s going to run out. So,” Biles added.

Watch this story: As Simone Biles and Michael Phelps? Work Towards Mental Health, Another Rising Gymnast Breaks Silence on Self-Care in Sports

“Cannot get it out”: Biles in a mix; a sense of pride coupled with a silly confession

In the end, despite the momentary setback, Biles dominated the final standings with a remarkable score of 58.399, claiming the gold medal. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil secured the silver with a score of 56.766, while the bronze medal was once again claimed by the USA, with Shilese Jones scoring 56.332. As the American national anthem played while Biles stood atop the podium, she was visibly moved, her eyes glistening with tears. Biles later admitted,

“OK, I was emotional because it’s ? it was my first worlds, here, 10 years ago. And then now, my sixth one. So it’s crazy. But I swear, I do have something in my eye that’s been bothering me for like four hours and I cannot get it out. So while I was looking up there, it was like a combination of both.”

With an astonishing total of 34 World and Olympic Medals to her name, Biles has now earned the title of the most decorated gymnast in history. Her journey, which began a decade ago when she entered Antwerp in 2013 as a rising star, claiming her first gold, has now solidified her status as a true legend of the sport.