Simone Biles, four-time Olympic gold medallist, did not back off from attacking with her flawless gymnastic moves and has been rewarded with a record 21st medal at the world gymnastics championships on Tuesday. Backed by the 22-year-old American gymnast, the United States retained their women’s team all-around title as they take seventh consecutive title at an Olympics or world championships.
Of 21 medals Biles won this is her 15th career gold medal, breaking a tie with the Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina. She now breaks the record for the most medals by a woman at the world championships, two steps away from breaking Vitaly Scherbo’s all-time record — men or women — of 23.
Key Takeaways:
- Simone Biles breaks record for most medals by a woman at worlds, on a verge of breaking Vitaly Scherbo’s all-time record — men or women of 23.
- USA women take seventh straight title at worlds or Olympics.
- Italy capture bronze for first world team medal since 1950.
- Biles’ 15th career gold medal brings her a total of 21 medals.
“Every year it feels better and better just because we’re adding to the legacy,” Biles said. “I feel like I never think of records. I just go out there and do what I came to do, which is compete for the country.”
The US team scored 172.330 points, silenced second-placed Russia by 5.801 points. According to NBC, it’s the longest global title streak for a women’s gymnastics program since the Soviet Union in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Biles qualified for all four event finals and individually she clinched the best scores on the vault, balance beam and floor. “I think if I do the routine that I did tonight I’ll be more than happy,” she said.
“It’s just so surreal to come out here and end up on top with the strength of the team that we have, even after having a couple falls out there,” Biles said.
Earlier last week, during the qualification rounds of the 2019 world championships, Biles also got two skills named after her.
In the first rotation on floor, Biles performed the triple twisting double somersault which eventually went viral after the US national championships in August. And then as the anchor for the US on their final event, the balance beam, Biles landed two back handsprings into a double twisting double somersault.
Surprisingly, a couple of months back the gymnast had suffered from kidney stones and other minor injuries. She has announced retirement after the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
READ: Simone Biles’ Amazing Reply To Body-Shamers
In November last year, Biles became the first woman to win four individual all-around world championships in Doha, created history. She also claimed her 12th world title. In addition to the all-around, Biles led the US to team gold earlier this year. In August last year, she won a record-breaking fifth US all-around title at the US Gymnastics Championships. During the event, Biles bagged gold in all four events: floor exercise, balance beam, vault and uneven bars, Yahoo reported. Before that, she had taken a 23-month break.
She had made a record at the Rio Olympics. Arguably one of the best performers in the history of the sport, the American defeated Russia and China in the team all-around by a wide margin and won the women’s individual all-around by a solid two points. The American is also the three-time world champ.
Biles took a leading role in defending the victims of the sexual abuse perpetrated by the former US Gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar.
Feature Image Credit: cosmopolitan.com
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