WATCH: US gymnast Leanne Wong talks about her historic World Championships win
The women’s national gymnastics team, led by Simone Biles, secured a place in sports history with its seventh consecutive world championship title.
The 26-year-old Biles, who returned to elite sport just two months ago, helped Team USA win a record-breaking gold medal at the world championships in Antwerp, Belgium, on Wednesday.
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Team United States after the women’s team final during the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on October 4, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium.
Biles sealed the deal with a final-round floor routine that yielded the day’s highest score and cemented the team’s victory by more than two points over Brazil.
This victory solidifies Biles’ status as the most decorated gymnast in history, now with a total of 33 medals.
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Simone Biles of Team United States celebrates during the women’s team final on day five of the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on October 4, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium.
Breakout star Leanne Wong, 20, spontaneously stepped in to compete in Joscelyn Roberson’s place in both vault and floor exercise after Roberson injured her ankle during warm-ups and had to drop out of the competition.
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Leanne Wong of Team United States reacts before her vault routine during the women’s team final on day five of the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on October 4, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium.
“We had an incredible evening. “I’m just so proud of this team,” Wong told “Good Morning America” Thursday morning from Belgium. “I know it wasn’t easy, but we pushed through every event, every skill and every routine – winning seven gold medals in a row is pretty impressive.”
Despite Roberson’s uncharacteristic fall on vault, the reserve gymnast helped maintain the U.S. winning streak at the Tokyo Olympics
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Simone Biles of the United States competes in the floor exercise women’s team final during the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on October 4, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium.
Wong said the day she was tapped to replace Roberson was “full of emotions,” of “sadness, stress, disappointment, excitement, happiness and pride.”
“We weren’t sure if it was a short landing. But I had to change my leash set and do two additional exercises,” she explained. “When she landed, my teammates said, ‘Take yours off.’ [warmup] Clothing.’ I had to get up, get ready and warm up my jumps to prepare for the competition.”
For the University of Florida gymnast, it was also an incredible feeling to be next to his teammate and living gymnastics legend Biles.
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Simone Biles of the United States competes in the uneven bars women’s team final during the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on October 4, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium.
“I can’t believe she won her first world all-around event here in Belgium 10 years ago,” Wong said. “I was just so happy to see her do so well on this competitive venue and win another gold medal for Team USA – the way she handles the pressure is incredible.”
Balance is one of Wong’s incredible attributes outside of the gym, too, as she juggles her studies as a medical student and is opening an eponymous boutique in her dorm room in 2021.
“It’s definitely a lot to do balancing school, collegiate gymnastics, world gymnastics, competing for Team USA and my studies,” she said. “My professors have been very helpful with me and my schedule and even sent me some congratulatory videos, emails and messages.”
Wong explained that “school and gymnastics are definitely the priorities, but after that I love managing my business and website – with all of my handmade bows. I’m thrilled with how well my business is thriving.”
Wong says she has sold over 10,000 bows to date, with help from her mother, family and other supporters of her side business.