But she managed to overcome her mental block to claim a bronze medalCredit: Getty
Simone Biles has achieved it once more.
Undoubtedly the most exceptional gymnast in history has further embellished her illustrious career by capturing her eighth all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships on Sunday, establishing a new all-time record.
More history for the 🐐!
Simone Biles becomes the first gymnast – man or woman – to win 8 All-Around Titles at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships! pic.twitter.com/a5drI6qRrh
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 28, 2023
Biles entered this weekend’s competition at the SAP Center in San Jose tied with Alfred Jochim for most all-around titles at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, though Jochim achieved the feat over a century ago.
The 26-year-old capped her victory on Sunday with a dazzling floor routine that earned a score of 15.4 and drew a standing ovation from the crowd. Biles’ teammate and friend Jordan Chiles even gestured for the crowd to continue cheering before beginning her floor routine.
The floor routine that secured @Simone_Biles' 8th national all-around title, a feat that no American gymnast in history has done before. #XfinityChamps https://t.co/yRhHxSEcY1
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 28, 2023
When you have to hype up bestie before you go on Floor 👏@ChilesJordan | @Simone_Biles pic.twitter.com/GSQFaRuLdO
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 28, 2023
Biles finished with an all-around score of 118.45. Her floor routine score was more than a half-point than she earned on Friday night, and she also improved on her beam score by 0.40 points.
Simone Biles is locked in. 🔐
She scores a 14.850 for this routine on the balance beam.
📺 @nbc & @peacock | #XfinityChamps pic.twitter.com/bZ26Tv9PqB
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 28, 2023
Earlier this month, Biles returned to competition for the first time since she took home bronze on the balance beam in the Tokyo Olympics. While her seventh medal tied the record for most Olympic medals by an American gymnast, it came after she withdrew from multiple finals in order to focus on her mental health.
“It felt really good, especially after everything that’s happened over the past year,” Biles said after her victory on Sunday. “Everyone that was cheering, made posters and all of that, it just made my heart melt that they still believe in me. I always kind of knew, as soon as everything that happened in Tokyo [that I’d be back].”
It appears that Biles is back in her usual form as she continues down the road toward the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Shilese Jones finished second in the all-around with 114.55 points, followed by Leanne Crow in third place with 111.10.
