American makes history again atop podium with three black athletes for the first time
Simone Biles performs on the balance beam in the women's all-round final of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. Photograph: Olivier Matthys/EPAIn the two years since Simone Biles returned home from the Olympics mentally and physically empty, it has taken everything for her to make it back to the top. She first had to withdraw from her sport in order to heal, with many hours spent in therapy. Since her return, she has thrown herself back in like never before.
Even though Biles towered over her rivals, the quality of her closest contenders was still incredibly high. In a brilliant tussle for silver and bronze that came down to a dramatic final floor rotation, Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, last year’s champion, won silver by scoring 56.766. Shilese Jones, Biles’ team-mate, took bronze with 56.332. Biles now has 34 world and Olympic medals, more than any gymnast, man or woman, in the history of the sport.
“I thought that was amazing,” said Biles. “Black girl magic. Hopefully it just teaches all the young girls out there that you can do anything you put your minds to.”As every competitor watched on, Biles, as usual, stepped up to the floor to perform the final routine of the night. Although she pounded through four brilliant tumbling passes, it was not perfect. Biles comically tripped while attempting a leap, which she later blamed on her general clumsiness.
Along with her excellence and mental fortitude, this return is a triumph of Biles’s longevity. Few can mentally and physically withstand a decade of elite gymnastics while competing at such a high level throughout. For so many gymnasts who are willing to put themselves through so much strife, their bodies often decide the length of their careers for them.
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