Simone Biles, like many of us, would have lost track of the number of records she broke during the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Doha. The American is still just 21 and is far from finished, with a good four-five years remaining at the high level, probably more if she keeps her motivation intact.
But even if she stops competing today, her records will be hard to beat. Yesterday at the Aspire Dome, Biles stormed to gold in the Floor Exercise and picked up a bronze in the Balance Beam, thus equalling retired Svetlana Khorkina for 20 medals at the Worlds. Since Biles has 14 of those in golds, compared to Russian Khorkina’s nine, the Texan is now the most decorated female artistic gymnast in world championships history.
Only Vitaly Scherbo and Kohei Uchimura have more world medals than Biles with 23 and 21. The 21-year-old will be chasing the record next year in Stuttgart, Germany.
Biles, who medalled in all six events in Doha, also became the first gymnast to win a medal in every event at a world championship in 31 years. No woman had medalled on every event since Daniela Silivas of Romania at the 1988 Olympics. Biles already has the record for most overall world titles, by a man or woman, now with 14.
Biles finished her Doha sojourn, which began at a night in hospital with kidney stone, with four gold, one silver and bronze. It’s a remarkable feat, considering she was making a comeback after taking a year off, after she won four gold and one bronze at 2016 Rio Olympics.
When asked what makes her the proudest of her accomplishments in Doha, Biles said: “There’s a lot to be proud of, but I’m most proud that I’m here, made all of the event finals, medalled in all of the events and I survived.
“I am definitely very happy, especially to win a medal in every event. No matter what colour the medal, I’m really proud of myself. It feels really rewarding because I’ve put a lot of hard work and dedication into this sport, so I couldn’t be happier. I’m really proud of my performances here. I wish some of them would have been better but I’m really proud of the outcome.”
At one point yesterday, it looked like Biles would miss out on a medal in at least one apparatus as she began the Balance Beam. The American was wobbly, nearly falling off the beam couple of times as she scored 13.600. As it turned out, that was enough for Biles to snatch a bronze, with only gold medallist China’s Tingting Liu (14.533) and Canada’s Anne-Marie Padurariu (14.100) putting on a better performance.
“To be completely honest, I’m really just happy that I stayed on the beam because going into these World Championships I wasn’t as confident as I used to be on beam. So I think it’s a step forward and hopefully from here on out it can only improve. It was really easy to turn around and go into floor with an open mind,” Biles said.
Once the beam hurdle was crossed, there was no doubt Biles would finish with six out of six. She was untouchable in Floor, with her difficultly level one point more than seven other finalists.
The three-time Floor world champion made it four as she was sublime again, scoring 14.933 and finishing a full point above second place. The silver medal also went to US with Morgan Hurd (13.933) just beating Mai Murakami of Japan (13.866).
Meanwhile, men’s all-round and Floor champion Artur Dalaloyan rounded off his Worlds with four medals. The Russian won silver in Vault and bronze in Parallel Bars yesterday.
North Korea’s Ri Se Gwang, who performed the most difficult vaults, bagged the gold with 14.933 score, .050 ahead of Dalaloyan. Kenzo Shirai of Japan was the bronze medallist with 14.675.
Men’s Parallel Bars went the expected way as Zou Jingyuan of China broke the 16-point mark again to become the world champion. Jingyuan’s perfect precision and smooth transitions put him a step above the rest of the field. Oleg Verniaiev of Ukraine with 15.591 finished ahead of Dalaloyan for silver.
The last event of the Doha Worlds was a high-class, spectacular men’s Horizontal Bar, in which Epke Zonderland of the Netherlands emerged triumphant.
Zonderland earned gold with 15.100 for his baffling release moves, adding to his Olympic and world titles from 2012, 2013 and 2014. Japan’s Kohei Uchimura took silver with 14.800, his 21st career world medal. American Sam Mikulak ended his individual medal drought at global event, by clinching bronze with 14.533, just .033 ahead of defending champ Tin Srbic of Croatia.
Zonderland was happy to regain his title he relinquished to Srbic last year. “It was a really nice routine. It felt good and there weren’t big mistakes. After two bad years before the (2016) Olympics, last year felt really good, but now I’m really back, and that feels really nice,” the ‘Flying Dutchman’ said.
Results (top 3)
Men’s Vault
1. Ri Se Gwang (PRK) 14.933
2. Artur Dalaloyan (RUS) 14.883
3. Kenzo Shirai (JPN) 14.675
Women’s Balance Beam
1. Liu Tingting (CHN) 14.533
2. Anne-Marie Padurariu (CAN)14.100
3. Simone Biles (USA) 13.600
Men’s Parallel Bars
1. Zou Jingyuan (CHN) 16.433
2. Oleg Verniaiev (UKR) 15.591
3. Artur Dalaloyan (RUS) 15.366
Women’s Floor Exercise
1. Simone Biles (USA) 14.933
2. Morgan Hurd (USA) 13.933
3. Mai Murakami (JPN) 13.866
Men’s Horizontal Bar
1. Epke Zonderland (NED) 15.100
2. Kohei Uchimura (JPN) 14.800
3. Sam Mikulak (USA) 14.533
Winner Simone Biles (centre) poses with second-placed Morgan Hurd (left) of the US and third-placed Mai Murakami of Japan during the medals ceremony for the women’s Floor Exercise yesterday.
