Biles makes history with 3rd world all-around gold – Romania’s Iordache recovers to win bronze

This news has been read 8120 times!

GLASGOW, Oct 30, (AFP): Simone Biles tumbled her way into the history books on Thursday by winning a record third consecutive all-around women’s gold at the world gymnastics championships ahead of US teammate and Olympic champion Gabby Douglas.

It may not have been a sleek performance as the 18-year-old fought to stay on the beam and stepped off the mat during the floor routine but it was enough to give her an eighth world gold in total.

She scored highest on the vault and the floor to lead a US 1-2 ahead of Olympic all-around and team champion Douglas who got her first world individual medal as she returns to competition following a two-year break following her 2012 London success.

Romania’s Larisa Andreea Iordache snatched bronze in Glasgow’s Hydro Arena, to add to her silver from last year.

“I’m shocked,” said Biles. “If I could crawl out of my skin and see it, it would be amazing.

“I tried to keep the pressure down today but I felt it a little bit.

“I kept looking at the scoreboard because everyone wanted the three-peat, but I would have been proud of myself whatever the outcome.”

It was the 11th world medal for the Texan in just her third senior season and second in Glasgow after helping the US defend their team title.

She becomes the first woman since Russian Svetlana Khorkina to win three all-around titles and first to win three in a row after Antwerp in 2013 and Nanning in 2014.

Biles, who qualified for the final ahead of European champion Giulia Steingruber, pulled ahead on the first rotation, the vault, scoring 15.833 to lead the Swiss by 0.233 with Douglas third at 0.533.

She held her lead after the uneven bars, 14.900, with Douglas moving into second 0.400 behind her teammate by scoring 15.033 on the apparatus.

Biles and Douglas both wobbled on the beam, but each scored 14.400, with Biles holding her 0.400 advantage going into the final rotation the floor.

Despite stepping outside the mat the reigning champion delivered an acrobatic routine to score highest 15.266 for an overall 60.399 to finish 1.083 ahead of Douglas 59.316.

“I felt when I made the mistake ‘Oh my God what am I doing’,” she explained.

“I nearly gave myself a heart attack as well as the rest of the world.

“It wasn’t my best meet but it was Ok. I’m really surprised by the margin because I feel I can do so much better.”

Both Biles and Douglas also won team gold earlier this week.

“I never thought I could come back and get silver,” said Douglas, 19, who returned eight months ago as she bids to become the first woman since 1968 to defend her Olympic title.

There were emotional scenes on the Romanian team as Iordache took bronze with 59.107, after struggling to 16th in qualifying, with China’s Shang Chunsong fourth and Steingruber fifth in the eight-woman final.

“Today I tried to get redemption for my teammates,” said Iordache, after Romania failed to qualify for the team final. “I feel much better but I always want much more.”

Biles becomes the US gymnast with the most world medals, overtaking Alicia Sacramone’s previous record of ten.

She has a chance for further medals as she competes in the finals of the vault, floor and beam later this week.

The competition continues on Friday with Olympic champion Kohei Uchimura bidding for a sixth consecutive men’s all-around title after helping Japan win their first team title since 1978 on Wednesday.

This news has been read 8120 times!