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The woman most people consider to be the greatest gymnast of all time continues to build on her incredible legacy.
simon biles she won a record eighth national title with a strong performance Sunday at the USA Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, California.
Biles, 26, also became the oldest woman to win the championship when she finished 3.9 points ahead of Shilese Jones, the all-around silver medalist at the 2022 World and US Championships.
The eighth title of bills breaks the record he shared with Alfred Jochim, who won his seventh all-around gold medal 90 years ago, in 1933.
“I think it feels really special,” he told NBC, which aired the championships. “I’ve been doing it for so long that I feel like I don’t think about numbers, I think about my performance. And I think overall, I hit eight out of eight (routines). … I guess that’s a lucky number this year.”
Even after a long absence from major competitions, Biles showed confidence in his performances and in the four-time Olympic gold medalist dominated the field on Friday and Sunday. He clinched the overall crown with 15,400 in his impressive floor exercise.
When he walked off the field to a standing ovation from the crowd, his teammates and coaches were waiting to give him a hug.
As teammate Jordan Chiles took the floor to perform her routine, Chiles waved her arms to the crowd to continue giving Biles a well-deserved standing ovation.
“It’s really unbelievable. Everybody here believes in me,” he said, referring to his teammates, coaches, family and the crowd. “So I just need to start believing in myself a little bit more, but it feels amazing and I love The fans, I love the crowd. It was really special.”
Biles would not say if she will compete in next year’s Olympics.
“I like to keep (my goals) personal just so I know what I’m aiming for,” he told NBC. “I’m trying to move a little differently this year than in the past. I think it’s working so far, so I’ll keep it a bit under wraps.”
Biles continues her return to competitive gymnastics after a two-year hiatus following the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when she withdrew from several events due to what’s known as the “twisted” – a mental block that causes a gymnast to lose track of their positions in the air.
Throughout the competition, Biles effortlessly and forcefully completed elements of her routines that no other gymnast had been able to compete with.
Sunday started with a solid 14.85 on vault. Later, she was seen wrapping her ankles between events.
She scored 14.050 on the uneven bars, but Biles’ 14.85 on the balance beam increased her lead and she went on to title track, where she won an Olympic and five World titles.
Biles returned to action earlier this month, triumphantly winning the Core Hydration Classic.
Biles is the most decorated gymnast in US history, having won 32 medals at the Olympics and world championships.
With the victory, Biles earned a place in the world championships, which will begin on September 30 in Antwerp, Belgium.
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