Years After Nightmare, Simone Biles Still ‘Cannot’ Execute the Dangerous Move

Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast ever, has 5 elements named after her, 3rd most in the field. With two on vault, one on balance beam, and two on floor exercise, the 7-time Olympic medalist has owned some of the difficult moves on the gymnastics mats. However, despite the attained heights, fear has been stranger to none, including the celebrated icon herein.

During Tokyo 2020, Simone Biles experienced one of the dreaded horrors a gymnast ever hopes to avoid: Twisties. The Olympian was supposed to land a 2 1/2 twisting vault, but the condition only allowed Biles to execute 1½ twists; further obliging her into hiatus. Thanks to the difficulty value, the gymnast today reveals she can’t perform the very element named after her.

Simone Biles reveals somber truth

One gymnastic enthusiast recently took to X (Twitter) to express her sorrow on missing Biles Vault. “The way I kinda miss her,” she wrote, further sharing a rough sketch of the routine. “Round off flic flac with 1/2 turn (180°) on – stretched salto forward with 2/1 twist (720°)” the post describes. Simone Biles, scouting through the platform, responded to the post with a grim fact. “The way I literally cannot do it anymore,” she commented under the post.

Simone Biles added the element to her name when she performed it at the 2018 World Championships qualification round. The move was then assigned a difficulty value of 6.4, tying it as the most difficult vault in Worlds with Produnova. Following along, the skill has reportedly never been performed since by anyone else but Biles herself. While the revelation comes as a harsh truth, it was the first time Biles iterated her inability to perform the move. Previously speaking about it, the gymnast posed the possibility of retaining the move.

A hope ahead for the difficult move

To conclude last year, Simone Biles appeared on Peacock’s ‘2023 Back That Year Up’ with Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson. Speaking of all things Simone and gymnastics, the duo asked if she could perform all five elements named after her. “That’s funny. I can actually still do four out of five. Like one of them is too hard that I can’t even do it anymore,” she said, adorning a smile. As the truth settled, the gymnast revealed that the stance wouldn’t let the move be lost just yet.”But we are working on it,” she adds. Notably, she has added one more vault element named after her in recent times.

Also Read: Celebrating Young Gymnasts, Simone Biles Excited for Her American Tour Ahead of Paris Olympics 2024

At the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium, Simone Biles became the first woman to perform the Yurchenko double pike vault on an international stage, thereby getting her name etched on it. As for her further interview, Simone Biles seems to be working on getting herself back on the Olympic stage after an abrupt end previously. The Biles Vault or not, the queen’s return to her domain makes up the enthusiasts’ excitement for now.

Read More: Simone Biles’ Near Impossible Yurchenko Double Pike Vault Mastered by Another Rising Sensation Hours Ahead of World Artistic Gymnastics Championships 2023