Even if Simone Biles had retired after the twists incident in 2021, she would still be one of the greatest American gymnasts of all time. But she is ‘defined by tremendous challenges and transformation‘. And above the twisties, Biles rose in pursuit of history at the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships to become the most decorated gymnast of all time.
She became the first female gymnast to win six all-around titles, and she isn’t done yet. Biles will look to add to her medal tally at the Paris Olympics, which already is quite staggering. Let’s unveil the inexorable juggernaut’s shiny gleaming talismans.
Simone Biles’ gold treasure trove
Very rarely does the talent meet potential in a child, but when it did for Simone Biles, history is being rewritten. “I’ve had the joy for the sport since the first day I stepped into the gym, it’s what I wanted to do“, Biles once said. And her joy started in Antwerp in 2013. Biles struck double gold as a 16-year-old at the World Championships in all-around and floor. A year later she would win 4 golds in Nanning followed by another quadruple in 2015. Biles had truly announced herself before the Olympics, and as expected, she delivered better and superseded pre-conceived expectations.
Entering her maiden Olympics at Rio in 2016, Biles took the world by storm with 4 gold medals in the team, all-around, vault, and floor disciplines. She would also subsequently win bronze in the beam, and later in 2020, Biles went on to win another bronze in the beam while a silver with the U.S. team to take her Olympic medal tally to 7. With her recent comeback victory at Antwerp, the 26-year-old won her 23rd gold medal at the World Championships, taking her overall tally to 27 Gold medals. However, there’s more gold to the story.
More gold after 27 medals? The path ahead
Just like Simone Biles has dominated the international circuits in the last decade, she has equally been a force to be reckoned with on the American mats. She started her US Championships journey in 2013 with an all-around gold, and 10 years later, she would win her 27th US title in 2023. Is there more? Yes, there is.
In the US Classics, Biles went medalless in 2013. But everyone would forget that a year later when she swept the all-around, vault, beam, and floor titles in 2014. The 26-year-old won 3 golds at the last year’s Classic and now has 7 Olympic medals to her name. Is there more? Yes, but at the Olympics, which will put her legacy and team USA in good stead.
