Team USA gymnastics women have been nothing short of spectacular in Antwerp at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. The power-packed team, comprising Simone Biles, Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, Skye Blakely, and Joscelyn Roberson, took the Sportpaleis by storm this week. Led by the iconic Biles, they secured their 7th consecutive World Title in the team finals.

However, the young women faced a disappointing setback at the Uneven Bars and Vault finals recently. In the Vault finals, Biles was outperformed by Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, ending her winning streak of 2023 and earning Biles the silver medal. On Uneven Bars, Simone Biles and Shilese Jones faced yet another challenger, one who not only outperformed them but also made history in the process. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Rebeca Andrade who achieved this feat.

American gymnastics legends outclassed by an unexpected rival

A recent Instagram post by Inside Gymnastics exclaimed, “With the silver medal on uneven bars, Kaylia Nemour wins the first World medal ever for Algeria and the first World medal ever for the continent of Africa! #ARTWorlds2023.” Kaylia Nemour is a French-Algerian artistic gymnast currently representing Algeria in international competitions.

She is the 2023 African all-around champion. Nemour’s victory marked Algeria’s first world medal and Africa’s first world medal in gymnastics. Simone Biles had also qualified for the uneven bars final on Saturday, but her routine lacked the difficulty of the rest, resulting in her finishing fifth.

How Biles did not make it to the podium for the first time

Her U.S. teammate, Shilese Jones, secured the bronze medal with a score of 14.766, trailing behind 16-year-old Qiu Qiyuan of China, who became the new World Champion with an impressive score of 15.100 points. Kaylia Nemour of Algeria earned the runner-up spot with an impeccable score of 15.033.

On the other hand, Biles finished in 5th place with a score of 14.200 on the uneven bars. Not only was Biles outperformed by a significant margin, but she also missed the podium for the first time in 2023. Despite this setback, Simone Biles has proven herself to be a comeback queen.

Read more: Despite Yurchenko Double Pike, Rebeca Andrade Crushes Simone Biles Winning Streak in World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2023

Fans eagerly await her final performance on Sunday. Having claimed all major titles this year, both nationally and internationally, Biles has demonstrated that she is in a class of her own. As Apparatus Day 1 concluded, fans were left in awe, hoping to witness more from the formidable Kaylia Nemour.

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