The last day of the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships saw a gold medal rush for the USA team. It began with the men’s team celebrating Khoi Young’s silver-winning vault moment. Shortly after, Simone Biles, 6th World titlist, stepped foot and had all the highlights on her cleanest balance beam routine. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with gymnastics legend Uchimara Kohei, she clocked an all-around score of 58.399. Yet, Biles’s signature element that usually vaults her to an uncontestable position became the reason for her undoing, leaving a sour taste in the mouths.

A one-point deduction owing to rolling backward with too much power and another half-point loss because of an on-mat spotter later, the gold win in the vault apparatus was redirected to reigning World champion, Rebeca Andrade. After her unanticipated silver win, the Olympian didn’t sit still.

Simone Biles’ 36th medal win

Claiming 37 medals across the Olympics and World Championships is not common. Despite losing her bet on the vault, Biles made up for her loss and emerged victorious on the last day in one of her strong suits. As the commentator rightly said, ‘The Unprecedented Simone Biles.” Currently considered the world’s most decorated gymnast, Simone finally graced herself with the 36th medal after the balance beam win.

On a mission to celebrate the historic moment, USA Gymnastics resorted to their ‘X’ handle to announce the biggie. The post reads, “ANOTHER ONE FOR THE (goat emoji). @Simone_Biles is the 2023 World Balance Beam Champion! The total Olympic & Worlds Medal Count is now at 36!” 

Clad in a sequined blue leotard, Biles looked self-assured after her smooth beam landing, smiling ear to ear. Clocking 14.800, Biles shifted her worthy rival Rebeca Andrade to bronze (14.300), beating out China’s Zhou Yaqin by just 0.1 points.

As she returned to the same global mat after a decade, some A-games were up her sleeves. Setting the global stage ablaze with her awe-inspiring displays, the 7X Olympic medalist proved her worth yet again. However, her upsetting performance on October 7 left her worried for a while.

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Simone’s dethroning moment

The 26-year-old’s unforeseen error gave her rivals hope as she attempted to land her first vault, the named Biles II (also known as the Yurchenko double pike), for a score of 14.433. Further, for her second vault, which she had to perform right away after losing her composure, Biles scored an impressive 14.666. As a result, she earned an overall average of 14.549. Biles’ performance kept her in the lead until Rebeca Andrade, the final of the nine gymnasts to compete, stepped on the stage.

Later in the day, Biles earned a fifth place on the uneven bars, which has historically been her weakest suit. In an event won by China’s Qiu Qiyuan with a score of 15.100, she clocked a score of 14.200. Shilese Jones settled for a bronze, while Kaylia Nemour of Algeria won silver. Despite her second-last leg setbacks, the GOAT remained the GOAT. On a mission to set sail on her Olympic boat, Simone looks hopeful.

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