Last Wednesday, Team USA made headlines all over the world when they claimed their seventh World Championship title in a row, continuing their dominance in the sport since 2011. The Americans were in a state of euphoria as they celebrated their victory, seemingly overcome with emotion after outlasting their adversaries on the global stage.
When it came to securing the gold medal, Shilese Jones asserted that Simone Biles was a leader on the team, describing her as a source of inspiration and motivation.
Shilese Jones on Biles
“It feels great, you know, to have someone with so much experience and someone older to look up to every single day.” Jones said of Simone Biles during their post-competition interview.
“She’s the leader, having someone so inspiring and so encouraging…. Team USA came together and we did what we needed to do tonight,” Jones added.
Meanwhile, when Biles was asked what it was like to win gold at the world championships again, she said it was “different” but “exciting.”
Biles on the championship
“I don’t know, each and every time you’re crowned world champion, it feels a little bit different. I mean, I’m still surprised I’m still going. I’m 26, I’m a little bit older so it feels just as good as the first one, just because we broke record, we came together, we had fight.”, Biles said. “It’s different, but it’s exciting.”
It was only last month when the US women’s team was decided at selection camp in Katy, Texas, where Biles came in first in the rankings and was joined on the team by fellow gymnasts Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely, and Joscelyn Roberson, as well as Leanne Wong.
As soon as the lineup was set and made public, expectations for the world championship increased because the squad included Biles, the top-ranked gymnast in the world, who had four moves named after her.
The bar of expectations was pretty tough to clear this time, especially since their team had won six consecutive titles in the past. But despite the challenges, the team persevered and delivered a commendable performance, pleasing both the audience and the judges.
The United States won gold with a score of 167.729, while Brazil finished second with a score of 165.530, and France finished third with a score of 164.064, as per Aljazeera.
This victory is the latest for Biles, who now has 34 individual medals from both the World Championships and the Olympics to her name. This makes her the most decorated female gymnast in the sport’s history, surpassing Vitaly Scherba’s record.
Additionally, her six all-around world championships are the most of any female gymnast in history.
ESPN also shared this groundbreaking news on their X, saying that the GOAT has done it.
“SIMONE BILES HAS DONE IT 🐐
She now has 34 medals across the world championships and Olympics, more than any other gymnast in the history of the sport 👏”
SIMONE BILES HAS DONE IT 🐐
She now has 34 medals across the world championships and Olympics, more than any other gymnast in the history of the sport 👏 pic.twitter.com/RSXsHZ4f9h
— ESPN (@espn) October 6, 2023