Simone Biles Clinches Ninth All-Around Title At U.S Gymnastics Championships

Simone Biles is rounding into form as she prepares to represent the United States in the Paris Olympics next month.

On Sunday, Biles clinched her ninth all-around title at the U.S. gymnastics championships in Fort Worth, Texas, with a remarkable score of 119.750. She is rewriting the history books, as no other gymnast has more than seven all-around titles.

How she bounced back after dropping out of the Tokyo Olympics makes her success more impressive. In 2021, Biles came down with the “twisties,” forcing her to remove herself from multiple events. During and after the summer games, she became a champion for mental health, explaining to fans and media that she needed to “focus on my well-being” to deal with what happened in Japan. Her win on Sunday meant she booked her ticket in the U.S. Olympic trials later in the month, leading to an emotional, heart-warming reaction from her mom and family during her routines Sunday.

Since the last time she participated in the Olympics, Biles’ family life has changed. She recently married NFL safety Jonathon Owens in 2023, and they settled down in Texas shortly after. However, Nellie, Biles’ stepmom, who she sees as her second parent, stole the show with her reactions. Each move brought her closer and closer to tears, knowing what this moment meant to her child.

Biles has become one of the most decorated gymnasts in world history, with four Olympic gold medals and 37 total medals across all competitions.

The U.S. Olympic trials begin June 27 and end June 30 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Olympic games take place in Paris, France, starting Friday, July 26. Gymnastics is one of the first events on the schedule, and the competition is underway from July 27 until August 5.

Article by Jordan Silversmith