via Getty
USA’s Simone Biles reacts after taking bronze in the Women’s Balance Beam Final at Ariake Gymnastic Centre on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Picture date: Tuesday August 3, 2021. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
via Getty
USA’s Simone Biles reacts after taking bronze in the Women’s Balance Beam Final at Ariake Gymnastic Centre on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Picture date: Tuesday August 3, 2021. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Simone Biles had been on a remarkable winning streak in the 2023 season. She secured victories both on American soil and on the global stage. She consistently claimed top spots on the podium, from the Core Hydration Classic to the National Championships, and even led the charge in the Team Finals at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. To add to that, she chased her record-breaking sixth World All-Around Title and emerged victorious, becoming the first woman ever to do so.
However, in a shocking turn of events, Biles’ winning streak in 2023 has come to an end. The queen of gymnastics has been dethroned in an unexpected twist at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Simone Biles the queen of gymnastics has been dethroned
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In the Vault and Uneven Bars finals on Saturday, Biles found herself outclassed not once but twice. First, at the Vault Finals, Biles executed her signature Yurchenko Double Pike on the Vault, now famously known as the “Biles II.” Unfortunately, she experienced a fall during the landing, resulting in a score of 14.433. She then performed a Cheng Vault, which earned her a score of 14.666, resulting in a total score of 14.549.
Uneven Bars final at #ARTWorlds2023:
? Qiu Qiyuan ?? 15.100
? Kaylia Nemour ?? 15.033
? Shilese Jones ?? 14.766#Gymnastics pic.twitter.com/67lECWl4D1? FIG (@gymnastics) October 7, 2023
However, last year’s World Champion, Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, emerged victorious. Andrade began with a Cheng Vault, which earned her a remarkable score of 15.000, followed by a Double Twisting Yurchenko that secured her 14.500 points, with a combined total of 14.750. This placed her atop the podium, earning her the Gold medal, while Biles despite the fall, remarkably still earned the Silver medal on vault. As the competition progressed, the queen was once again outclassed and dethroned on uneven bars.
How she did not even make it to the podium
During the end Uneven Bars finals, Biles the seven-time Olympian, didn’t make it to the podium in Antwerp Belgium for the first time. Qiu Qiyuan of China on her debut at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships earned a remarkable score of 15.100, securing the gold medal.
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via Reuters
FILE PHOTO: Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Gymnastics Artistic Training – Ariake Gymnastics Centre, Tokyo, Japan – July 22, 2021 Simone Biles of the United States during training REUTERS/File Photo
Kaylia Nemour of Algeria claimed the silver medal with a score of 15.033, while Shilese Jones took home the bronze with a score of 14.766. Biles found herself in fifth place with a score of 14.200 on uneven bars. The three were handed their medals amid applause but also a void of heartbreak for many Biles fans.
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Winning back-to-back this year, this moment was heart-breaking for fans, as they did not get to see the most decorated gymnast make it to the podium in Sportpaleis for the first time this year.
Watch this story: ??ONE LAST GO AROUND..?: After Hinting at Her Exit From the Sport, LSU Gymnast Olivia Dunne Announces Her Last Competition
