Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast at the age of 26, has prompted the world to wonder if there’s anything she can’t do. Surprisingly, it turns out there was, and it happened in the world of gymnastics no less.
Months ago, Biles stunned millions around the world with an excellent floor routine at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, which secured her a gold medal. But later in November, she was challenged by a German Olympian in a gravity-defying floor routine. In response to this rival, Biles was recently left stumped on the gymnastic stage.
Simone Biles responds to a challenge set by a German Olympian
In a recent Instagram story, the seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles shared a video from the WCC in Houston, where she was seen practicing gymnastics routines with her teammates and coaches. Among the series of stories, one stood out, which showcased the 26-year-old Biles dressed in a black hoodie. She performed a gravity-defying aerial cartwheel on a gymnastics mat while landing perfectly on her feet.
Her caption read, “@pauline_schaefer I finally figured it out” with a laughing emoji. She continued saying, “This one was so tricky for my brain to comprehend.” This clean move by the gymnastics queen came as a response to a challenge set before her by German rival gymnast Pauline Schaefer.
Pauline Schaefer bold challenge to the gymnastics queen
Nearly a month ago, German gymnast Pauline Schaefer, who represented Germany at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, took to Instagram and shared a jaw-dropping spectacle. She posted a slowed-down video of the move recently performed by Biles in a reel captioned, “Don’t be afraid to fail; be afraid not to try! 💥”
Openly challenging the GOAT of gymnastics, Simone Biles, she reposted the reel to her story and wrote, “@simonebiles Are you already able to do it?” while also adding a GOAT ( Greatest Of All Time) emoji.
As both Simone Biles and Schaefer set their sights on the Paris Olympics 2024, Biles’ candid admission of the challenge and the humility she displayed in executing the move highlighted why she is considered the greatest in gymnastics.
