Simone Biles ties record for world medals after winning gold in vault
Simone Biles can’t stop, won’t stop shattering the gymnastics record books.
Two days after earning a record fifth all-around title at the 2019 World Gymnastics Championship in Germany, Biles inched closer to another historic landmark on Saturday. She won gold in the women’s vault competition for her 23rd career world championship medal, tying the record for most world championship medals for a male or female.
If Biles medals in the uneven bars later on Saturday (she qualified seventh) or in either final event on Sunday, she will pull ahead of Belarus’ Vitaly Scherbo for the all-time record. Even if Biles does not finish in the top three in the uneven bars, she has a good chance of at least one more medal on Sunday, as she qualified first in both the balance beam and floor exercise.
Biles again blew away the competition with both her vault attempts Saturday, earning the two highest scores with a 15.333 and 15.466.
Beautiful first vault for @Simone_Biles in the individual event finals at #Stuttgart2019 pic.twitter.com/ktIby8vnMl
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) October 12, 2019
On her second vault, Biles stuck the Amanar landing flawlessly after two and a half twists.
Fly high and stick the landing!@Simone_Biles effortlessly nails her second vault at #Stuttgart2019 pic.twitter.com/nbxsakKe5v
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) October 12, 2019
In an interview with USA TODAY, Biles said even she is sometimes surprised by her performances.
“I try to stay focused on myself and the expectations I have for myself going in. But at times it’s overwhelming,” Biles said. “I don’t know. Somehow I just manage it.”
The 22-year-old, who has five Olympic medals to her name, has indicated that this is probably her last world championship. If that’s the case, then she is leaving nothing on the table.
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