Simone Biles’ smile faded for two years. But it has returned brighter than ever. The very young Simone, 16 years old, braces, debutant, won his first world championship a decade ago. Now a mature Biles, a true athletic prodigy and outstanding gymnast, once again wins the full individual artistic gymnastics competition at the World Championships in Antwerp, tying the record of six all-around titles held by Japanese legend Kohei Uchimura. In between, there are many reasons for Biles to lose her smile. In Belgium, however, there was no trace left in the World Cup final: a brilliant performance from start to finish. They couldn’t do anything with her (58.399), although Rebeca Andrade (56.766) in second and Shilese Jones (56.332) in third followed closely in their footsteps. Biles, unstoppable on any apparatus, was thrilled and finished with her floor routine to the cheers of the audience. Once again history in artistic gymnastics.
The Antwerp Sportpaleis in Antwerp, which was filled to capacity, was dressed in gold for the women’s grand final and for the 24 gymnasts. Alice Kinsella – replacement for Jessica Gadirova –, Rebeca Andrade – 2022 World Champion –, Shilese Jones, Flavia Saraiva and Elsabeth Black. All together, in the same group, in the same equipment, they fought hand in hand for the podium. But she was there too. Simone Biles, ready to jump. He sighed before starting, playing it safe and avoiding repeating his Biles II. He repeated the routine he did in the team final, but improved it until he achieved a near-perfect 15.100. Nobody coughed on Simone at the rack: Rebeca scored a 14.700, placing her third, and Jones scored a 14.233.
Although one name escaped Biles: Kayla Nemour, who bested the American with 15,200 in asymmetric events. Device with which 16-year-old Qiu Qiyuan shone with 14,700 points and with which the falls were repeated again and again. Three strong gymnasts, such as France’s Melanie Dos Santos, Brazil’s Saraiva and Canada’s Black, could not grab the bar in time and kissed the mat. Now it was Simone’s turn, who made her performance seem short and left the audience wanting more. Without any mistakes, with a good vertical position and with strength, he fought for first place with 14.333. And Andrade, the other big favorite for gold, made it to the starting gate with a score of 14,500.
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Alexa Moreno appeared to have injured her knee after landing from a jump. The dejected Dos Santos received support from her coach. There were failures in the first two rounds and the gymnasts complained. However, not everyone suffered the same fate: Biles led by two tenths over Andrade and five over Jones. Everything was decided on the balance beam and floor. The American risked everything on his first attempt. More serious than usual, she focused on execution and managed to score more than enough 14.433 points to maintain the lead. Andrade, for his part, climbed onto the bar to the cheers of the audience. She landed with a step back and seemed dissatisfied with her execution, although her seriousness was a sign of concentration. She scored 13,500 points and first place on the podium was lost to the Brazilian. While Jones came closer and placed behind his compatriot after scoring a solid 14.066 points.
The final, the fight for gold, had become a close neck-and-neck race between last year’s world champion and the one everyone expected this year. But Jones got in the way and wanted his medal too. The elegant and willowy Naomi Visser showed beauty and style on floor and Nemour, who had impressed in the first round, failed on floor despite finishing in eighth place. The very young Qiyuan excitedly hugged her trainer when she finished. He was satisfied: on his World Cup debut he had achieved an impressive fourth place, just outside the podium.
Saraiva and Black failed on the ground and fell away from the best. Rebeca’s turn was not flawless: she left the mat line as she landed, penalized three tenths and sighed at her 14.066. She was followed by Jones, who needed a great performance to take silver.
Then Biles came to the final floor exercise and smiled at everything she had endured. A tough childhood with alcoholic and drug-addicted parents, growing up with her grandparents, a brother arrested and charged with triple murder and the sexual abuse of former association doctor Larry Nassar. And the mental health problems in Tokyo 2020. But it stopped, and it stopped well. Every pirouette, every diagonal brought her closer to the top and she enjoyed it. Even though he stumbled, he knew he had made it and laughed at his own mistake.
And in the end the sports palace was raging. Biles made history again. “I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, I’m the first Simone Biles,” said the American at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Like Biles, there is only one. She was named the best in the world for the sixth time. And of course with a big smile.
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