Just five months ago, US gymnast Simone Biles was taking a break from the world stage to focus on her mental health. Now, the gymnastics superstar has claimed her 21st world title, making her the most-decorated gymnast in the sport’s history– male or female.
This brings her total to 34 medals across world championships and Olympics, surpassing Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo’s record of 33 medals.
On Friday, she competed at the world gymnastics championships in Antwerp, Belgium, winning five medals– gold in the all-around, team, balance beam and floor exercise competitions as well as silver on the vault.
These medals also helped lead team USA to become the only team in history to win 7 consecutive world team titles.
Per usual Biles dominated the competition and scored 58.399 points to secure the title ahead of defending champion Rebeca Andrade of Brazil (56.766), with US teammate Shilese Jones taking bronze (56.332). In another addition to the history books, these three champions made up the first all-Black world all around podium.
Unafraid to be true to show the world she isn’t perfect, Biles’ comeback meet after a two-year break goes to show she is truly in a league of her own.
Just last week, Biles became the first person in history to land the Yurchenko double pike– the most difficult gymnastics move in the women’s scoring code. The move was renamed in her honour.
In a full-circle moment in Antwerp, Biles told reporters she was “emotional” because she’d won her first world’s at Antwerp roughly a decade ago when she was a 16-year-old. That was when she’d opened her world tally, winning four medals in 2013.
“It means everything to me, after everything I’ve put in to get back to this place to feel comfortable and confident enough to compete,” said Biles.
She’s not done yet, however, with two more days left in this year’s world championships. Biles has four apparatus finals left, and is expected to add to her medal count further. She’ll compete in the women’s vault and uneven bars finals on Saturday and the balance beam and floor exercise finals on Sunday.