Simone Biles, the renowned gymnastics superstar, claimed her ninth U.S. Championships title on Sunday, solidifying her status as one of the best gymnasts in the world.
Biles achieved a two-day all-around score of 119.750, finishing almost six points ahead of second-place finisher Skye Blakely.
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Driving the news: Her dominant performance suggests she is primed to win another all-around Olympic gold medal, adding to her previous victory in 2016.
- Throughout the competition, Biles displayed her trademark combination of athleticism, precision, and confidence, earning the highest score on all four events. Her performance builds momentum leading up to the Olympic trials later this month in Minneapolis.
- Biles encountered a minor mishap during the vault event in warm-ups, but recovered and executed a successful Cheng vault, contributing to her overall score. The vault she attempted, a Yurchenko double pike, has never been completed by another woman in competition and is only attempted by a select group of men.
The big picture: With her latest win, Biles now holds nine national titles, a remarkable feat considering no other gymnast in U.S. history has more than seven.
- While Biles remains the frontrunner, there is fierce competition for the remaining four spots on the U.S. team for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Skye Blakely’s impressive performance at the Championships indicates she is heading to Minneapolis with strong momentum after a setback in her 2020 Olympic bid due to injury.
- Despite battling kidney issues, 2020 Olympic champion Suni Lee showcased her exceptional skills on the uneven bars and balance beam, resembling Biles’ level of excellence.
- Gymnasts Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey are also in the running, although both experienced falls during the beam event. Kayla DiCello slipped off the uneven bars, and Leanne Wong struggled with uncharacteristic mistakes.
- Shilese Jones, considered one of the best all-around gymnasts in the U.S. alongside Biles, withdrew from the championships due to a shoulder injury but expects to be available for the trials. Kaliya Lincoln, who opted not to compete on Sunday due to a minor injury, could also be a contender if fully recovered.
- The performance of Jones and Lincoln will significantly impact the selection process for the U.S. team headed to Paris. If they are unable to compete, it could create opportunities for other gymnasts, putting the depth of the senior elite program to the test.
