Simone Biles Dominated The 2023 World Gymnastics Championships
American star Simone Biles continues to add hardware to an already illustrious career.
According to The Athletic, Biles, 26, took home five medals (four gold) after a dominant weekend at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.
On Friday (Oct. 6), the decorated athlete began her solo weekend with a near-flawless vault. Though her signature “Biles II” was absent, her overall execution was ever so present.
Two of her most impressive performances happened on Sunday (Oct. 8) when she walked away with gold in both events.
Biles and the American team (Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, Skye Blakely and Joscelyn Roberson) won the USA’s seventh straight gold medal in the team competition at the world championships on Wednesday (October 4), including a team competition since 2011. This includes breaking the all-time record for both men and women for consecutive team titles in the history of the sport.
She now has 23 world titles. Biles also has won the floor title in six straight appearances at the world championships and a total of four balance beam victories. Her grand total of 37 medals at both Olympics and world championships combined leaves her in a class of her own.
Biles still maintains a humble, hard working spirit through the success and accolades.
“I don’t know, I think I’m always shocked,” Biles said about her record. “I’m just here along for the ride, to contribute to the U.S. and just have fun.”
Biles is the oldest U.S. woman ever to win a world championships medal and since 2013, she has remained undefeated in all-around competitions.
She began her run to 23 world titles a decade ago at the age of 16 in Antwerp, where she earned her first all around title. She is unarguably the most decorated gymnast in the sport – men or women.
Biles took a two-year hiatus from the sport after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, due to mental health reasons called “the twisties” that interfered with her performance. She withdrew from competition to focus on her mental health, returning to win gold in August’s U.S. Classic.
