Simone Biles wins a record 8th US Gymnastics title

US Gymnast Simone Biles Wins a Record Eighth all Around National Title

SAN JOSE, California — Simone Biles has chosen not to elucidate her reasons. Part of this decision is intentional, while part of it arises from her inability to do so.

At the pinnacle of her performance, as witnessed on Sunday night during her triumphant capture of a record-breaking eighth U.S. championship, Biles describes a sensation akin to a “fever dream.” It’s not exactly autopilot, but rather an immersive vibe, a state of flow.

In these moments, the persistent doubts that still haunt her, even a decade into an unparalleled era of excellence, fade into the background.

There’s no cognitive processing. No excessive analysis. No grappling with the “twisties.” It all recedes, becoming inconsequential. Her coach, Laurent Landi, terms it a skill, though Biles, at 26, refrains from endorsing it to that extent, perhaps out of a simple reluctance.

She invested an extensive period, far too prolonged, grappling with her internal thoughts. She’s resolute about avoiding a repetition of that experience.

Consequently, she found herself smiling midway through a floor routine that compelled almost every fellow competitor to cease their routines and watch, evoking a standing ovation from a section of the capacity crowd at SAP Center. However, she remains unable to offer an explanation. When her coaches commended her flawless tumbling passes, she remained perplexed.

“It’s difficult to believe, for some inexplicable reason,” Biles conceded.

Yet, it undeniably is real—astonishingly so.

A decade ago, she stood as a teenage prodigy, her recollections of the ascent to the summit of her sport rather sparse. Her focus was consistently drawn to the next challenge—world championships, team camps, the Olympics.

Now, at 26, she’s a newlywed woman resolved to truly embrace the moment. A mere six months prior, her commitment was uncertain. Three weeks ago, in Chicago, every salute to the judges seemed to evoke a nauseating sensation.

The individual who posted a two-day all-around score of 118.40 over the weekend in northern California, surpassing runner-up Shilese Jones by four points and comfortably distancing herself from Florida junior Leanne Wong in third place, isn’t hurrying into the future. She clinched victory. This time, she’s permitting herself to experience genuine happiness, a sentiment that didn’t always accompany her past achievements.

“We make a sincere effort to individually and collectively celebrate our successes, so that a few years down the line, we can reminisce about this,” she explained. “Because I don’t remember much from the past.”

She comprehends that gymnastics, while enduring, won’t persist indefinitely, even if it feels as though it has for her.

Longevity isn’t typically associated with peaks in performance. At 26, most elite gymnasts, if they haven’t retired, are striving to retain their current abilities.

The woman who secured her eighth national title this weekend, surpassing Alfred Jochim’s record of seven between 1925-33, during the era of the Amateur Athletics Union championships that included rope climbing, isn’t content with mere preservation. Landi hailed her floor routine in the finals as her finest.

She shared, “He firmly believes it’s because of maturity.”

Biles’ eight championships mark her as a pioneer, outshining the past and pushing the boundaries with her exceptional skills.

Presently, her training methodology is more strategic, her way of acknowledging the wear and tear of two decades of dedication. Despite remaining one of the most prominent figures in the Olympic movement, she’s chosen to withhold numerous details from the world as she looks ahead to the Paris Olympics next summer.

She jests that it’s due to people’s inquisitiveness. However, her genuine motive is to retain a semblance of privacy.

“I prefer to keep my goals personal, so that I have a clear target,” Biles affirmed. “I believe this approach is more effective. I’m attempting a different approach this year, distinct from my past practices. So far, it seems fruitful, and I intend to maintain this air of secrecy.”

Her life exhibits a greater equilibrium, as she embraces the mantra that “it’s just gymnastics,” a philosophy that propelled her ascent.

Although age hasn’t caught up with her, she exercised relative caution—according to her standards—on Sunday. A tweak to her right ankle while perfecting her electric Yurchenko double pike vault on Friday didn’t deter her. Her 14.850 score for the Cheng vault remained the highest of the evening, as was her 14.8 score on the beam. Even her 15.400 on the floor routine.

Her next destination is Antwerp in late September, where she aims to add to her collection of 25 world championship medals, 18 of which are gold.

Jones, known for her remarkable skills on the bars, is likely to accompany her. Despite being taller (around 5 feet 6 inches) than the average gymnast, she excels in this discipline. The audience erupted with approval as she executed her dismount, securing a 15.000 score that dominated the event and indicated her recovery from a year filled with injuries.

As for who will join Jones and Biles at the world championships, that remains uncertain.

Reigning Olympic champion Sunisa Lee, grappling with a kidney issue throughout the year, could find a place as a specialist.

Wong, one of several athletes navigating both NCAA and elite competition simultaneously, demonstrated her prowess with two remarkable performances. Her elegant bars routine and precision-driven floor exercise compensated for a lack of sheer power.

Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, Biles’ teammates at the 2020 Olympics who balanced college and elite competition for two years, exhibited less precision. Chiles experienced falls on both the bars and the beam, while Carey only managed a top-10 finish in vault—a discipline where the American team is anticipated to excel.

Biles will lead the charge. Every day, she humorously questions her continued participation. Yet, the answer is uncomplicated: she believes she is fully capable.

And indeed, her performances strongly reinforce that belief.