Simone Biles (Photo Credit: USA TODAY)
Simone Biles, aged 26, has secured a spot on the world gymnastics championships team for the sixth time. She is also about to become the oldest U.S. woman to compete at the world championships in over 50 years.
Biles Triumphs in Selection Camp
Biles achieved this by winning the overall competition at a USA Gymnastics world team selection camp in Katy, Texas. This victory secured her the first of six spots on the team.
Overcoming Challenges for Victory
Biles scored 55.7 points, narrowly defeating Shilese Jones by four-tenths of a point despite experiencing a fall during her first routine on the uneven bars, another during her last routine, and also during the Yurchenko double pike vault.
Score Comparison & Notable Achievements
Her scores on the balance beam and floor exercise were lower than her eighth U.S. all-around title win last month.
In previous competitions, Bile achieved all-around scores of 59.3 and 59.15 at the national championships in August. She also earned a score of 59.1 at an earlier August meet. These are the top three all-around scores worldwide since the Tokyo Olympics.
Shilese Jones’ One-Day Event
Shilese Jones, the 2022 World all-around silver medalist, had an opportunity to outscore Biles in a one-day all-around event, similar to what Suni Lee accomplished during the Tokyo Olympic Trials. However, she fell short, primarily due to a lower score on her final routine.
Selecting the Rest of the World Team
The rest of the world team will be chosen by a committee, and the final lineup will be announced after a second day of camp competition on Wednesday night. One of the six gymnasts will be designated as an alternate before the world championships on October 1, in Belgium.
Biles’ Historic Achievement
Biles, who recently became the oldest U.S. women’s all-around champion in modern history, is now also the oldest American gymnast to make a world team since at least 1970, based on USA Gymnastics records.
By competing in her sixth world championships, Biles will break the tie for the most world championship appearances by an American gymnast, which she currently shares with several other accomplished athletes.
Other Contenders for the World Team
Other gymnasts being considered for the world championship team, include the five members of the 2022 World roster: Shilese Jones, Tokyo Olympic medalists Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, as well as Leanne Wong and Skye Blakely.
Source: OlympicTalk
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