Simone Biles makes history at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
Topics: Sport, Simone Biles
Stewart Perrie
Featured Image Credit: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
Topics: Sport, Simone Biles
Simone Biles has made history on the first day of qualifying at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
She's already cemented her spot as one of the greatest gymnasts the world has ever seen and she's just added another accolade to her glittering career.
The 26-year-old has become the first woman ever to land the Yurchenko double pike vault at an international competition.
The Daily Mail says this move is 'undeniably dangerous' because there is a chance the gymnast can fall on their neck or head.
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Someone who wants to attempt the stunt has to do a roundoff onto the springboard and then a back handspring onto the vaulting table.
They then have to pull their body around twice while in the pike position and still land on their feet.
However, because there is no room for what's called a bailout, the stunt has been feared for years and has only been performed by men.
Biles stepped up to the plate at the Championships in Antwerp, Belgium dressed in a blue outfit and absolutely nailed it.
As a precaution, the gymnast's coach stood on the mat, which cost Biles a half-point deduction.
After completing the difficult move, Simone ended up with a score of 15.266.
Not only that, but the Yurchenko double pike vault has now been renamed the Biles II, which is the fifth time a move has been named after the 26-year-old.
Her coach, Laurent Landi, said it was an incredible moment.
"People, I hope, realize that's maybe one of the last times you're going to see a vault like that in your life from a woman gymnast," she said.
"So I think it's time to appreciate it."
Biles also competed on floor, vault, uneven bars and balance beam and walked away with an all-around total of 58.865.
CNN says this is the first time Biles has been back on an international competition since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
She pulled out of several events due to her mental health.
Simone was suffering from the 'twisties', which Health.com says is a mental block that stops gymnasts from being able to complete moves while they're in the air.
Jamie Shapiro from the University of Denver explained to the outlet: "The body knows what to do, and motor programs are stored in the brain, but the brain is having trouble accessing those motor programs."