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“Actually Made Me Feel Better”: Simone Biles’ Inability for This Gymnastics Move Relieved Kelly Clarkson

Published 04/30/2024, 12:37 AM EDT

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Simone Biles can’t perform certain gymnastics moves! Kelly Clarkson pointed out recently in her talk show. However, the credit goes to Fred Richard’s joint video with the legend, made for the upcoming Gold Over America tour program. In her conversation with Fred Richard, Kelly Clarkson spoke at length regarding that video where Simone Biles and Fred Richards were trying each other’s moves. But showing that video, Fred revealed Simone Biles’ inability to emulate male gymnasts’ moves and vice versa. That part was quickly picked up by Kelly Clarkson. 

In his further disbursal, Fred informed Kelly that both Simone and he threw a challenge to each other by copying each other’s artistic gymnastic moves. To everyone’s awe, both standouts failed terribly. Simone couldn’t land Fred’s cartwheeling-type moves on the floor. On the other hand, Fred Richards could not do a ditto of Simone Biles’ full stretch jump on the floor. At first, Kelly assumed that both would have effectively adapted to each other’s moves since they were playing the same sport. But upon hearing about their inability, she swiftly entered the scene to exclaim, “That actually made me feel better,” as this inability made Simone Biles and Fred Richard appear more human. But also, she had some suggestions for the all-around bronze medalist. 

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Kelly Clarkson suggested Fred have their practice schedule by switching the sports “as the sports go hand in hand”. However, Fred displayed his glee over this. But at the same time, he argued that it might feel like “starting from the scratch”, for Simone Biles as well. However, Fred nurtures a special interest in switching sports. In the past, he tried some. In one such case, Fred included several basketball and football players to teach them backflips. Fred did not stop there.

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He also divulged that he taught backflip to some singers as well. Kelly couldn’t hold her excitement after hearing this. But the question regarding the gymnastics ability of the most decorated gymnast ever in history stole the limelight in Kelly Clarkson’s talk show. Hang on before reaching a conclusion about Simone’s ability! Take a moment to recall what happened at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships last year. 

Simone Biles did break into the ‘male territory’  

Last year in Belgium, Simone Biles successfully pulled off the gymnastic vault, Yurchenko double pike. Its difficulty level made only a few men attempt it in the past. Eventually, Simone became the first woman gymnast to perform it on an international platform. So, in that respect, the vault gained the name of Biles II. Furthermore, the international regulatory body set a difficulty score of 6.4 for this vault – the highest difficulty score among the vaults. But what does it make so difficult? 

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It is mainly doing back handspring onto the vault table and lastly concluding the move with two double flips. But that makes it so difficult that only a few male gymnasts had attempted it successfully in the past. Describing the difficulty level, Simone’s personal coach, Laurent Landi, once said, “What’s scary [is], people can get hurt…You do a short landing, it can hurt your ankles. It’s very dangerous vault.” The gymnastic raconteur, Dave Lease elaborated further. 

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“This is something that only a handful of men can do without serious bodily harm. She actually did the vault extremely well”, he said. Simone Biles pushed her limit to that level when she attempted this vault several times – at the US Classic and other national gymnastics championships. So here lies Simone Biles’ supremacy- to perform unthinkable things with an ease that may put everyone in disbelief! 

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Written by:

Prasun Chakrabarty

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Prasun Chakrabarty is an Olympic Sports Writer for EssentiallySports, who specializes in covering aquatic arena events. Post his experiences with popular publications including PinkVilla, Prasun began his days in ES, by actively covering two prime events - 2023 US Open Swimming Championships and the 2024 TYR Pro Swim Series. Prasun's coverage extends beyond the pool, and he takes specific interest in the progress of the triangular rivalry between track and field stars, Sha’Carri Richardson, Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. You can follow him on:-
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Edited by:

Bhujaya Ray Chowdhury