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The day 2 final event of the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships was even more stressful than anticipated! From Kayla DiCello to Trinity Thomas to Jordan Chiles and even Jade Carey, it seemed like a curse was in full swing as the icons fell during their routines. And when fans thought that at least Simone Biles would come through, even she could not escape the fall curse at the Fort Worth 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships.

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On the final night of the competition, while chasing her ninth all-around National Championship title, the queen was leading the Rotation 6 standings as she moved into her seventh. She approached her forte, the vault, dazzling in a cream GK Elite leotard adorned with sparkles. However, without Laurent Landi assisting her vault this year as he had done previously, a fall on the YDP sent a collective gasp through the audience.

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Simone Biles also experiences the ‘fall curse’ at the 2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships

According to Peacock, on the seventh rotation, during her first vault of the night, the Yurchenko double pike, also known as the Biles II, Simone Biles had too much power, bounced to her back, and hit the mat with a thud. But since she was competing in the vault final, she performed a second flight phase, too.

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In her second vault of the rotation, Simone Biles executed the Cheng, flawlessly, showcasing her resilience and skill. Despite her fall, Simone Biles maintained her lead in the seventh rotation with a score of 105.350, followed by Skye Blakely at 99.650 and Kayla DiCello at 97.750. As we reflect on Simone Biles’ remarkable ability to keep the crowd on the edge of their seats with her comeback skills, let’s delve into how the “fall curse” plagued the other gymnasts.

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Other gymnasts who took a hit of the curse and their comebacks

Kayla DiCello experienced a setback on the uneven bars when she fell during a release move, the Hindorf. Despite this, she persevered, executing a piked Jaeger and Church with slightly messy legs, necessitating an extra swing. She then smoothly transitioned into a Pak salto, van Leeuwen, and concluded with a solid dismount. Her score of 12.600 was a disappointment given her initial hiccup.

The curse found it’s way to the balance beam too, as Jade Carey started strong with a clean opening and a solid back handspring layout step-out series. However, she encountered trouble with a wobble and fell on her jump, the switch side. Nevertheless, she regained her composure, completing her jump series before dismounting with a double pike, albeit with some leg form issues and a step back. She earned a score of 12.300 for her efforts.

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Similarly, Jordan Chiles faced difficulties on the balance beam, as evidenced by her score of 12.300. Despite struggling during podium training, she finished her routine strongly, a positive sign that may boost her confidence for the remaining three routines. Despite these struggles, Simone Biles showcased her unparalleled dominance, clinching her ninth U.S. all-around title at the Xfinity Champs, leaving the competition in awe.

Skye Blakely in second place and Kayla DiCello in third joined her on the podium. Suni Lee claimed fourth, with Jordan Chiles rounding out the top five. Additionally, Biles made history by winning all four event titles for the second time in her career, a feat she previously achieved in 2018. What are your thoughts on these comebacks and the future of Team USA at the Paris Olympics? Comment below!

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Christaline Meyers

1,486 Articles

Christaline Meyers is a senior Olympics writer at EssentiallySports who specializes in gymnastics and alpine skiing. Christaline is one of the acclaimed authorities in the coverage of 6x All-Around champion, Simone Biles. She has written extensively, covering every detail of Biles’s life stories as well as providing her perspective on Simone Biles’ Yurchenko Double Pike controversy. Beyond the gymnastics realm, Christaline also takes an avid interest in the development of the on-field rivalry between Mikaela Shiffrin and Petra Vlhova in the snow-covered alps. When away from the ES Desk, she can be found meditating and listening to music.

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Arnima Shukla

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