When Simone Biles faced doubts about her ability to compete in gymnastics again due to a once-effortless skill becoming challenging, she chose not to leave the sport. Instead, she transformed it.
Biles showcased her signature Yurchenko double pike vault to win her seventh Olympic gold medal on Saturday, outshining competitors in the women’s vault final. This vault, involving double flips, was previously unattempted by any woman in competition before her successful execution at last year’s world championships.
The vault, where Biles reaches an estimated height of 12 feet, highlights that the 10-time Olympic medalist has not only overcome the mental block that affected her in Tokyo but has also improved.
Biles’ coach, Laurent Landi, praised her recovery, noting that while the trauma from Tokyo was severe, Biles’ current performance is impressive.
Biles admitted that she and her coaches were shaken by a difficult Amanar vault she performed in Tokyo, which led to her getting disoriented in mid-air. Although she considered reverting to the Amanar vault, Landi suggested perfecting the double pike instead.
Even with a potential fall costing execution points, the double pike’s high difficulty level would make her nearly unbeatable if landed cleanly.
Biles achieved a two-vault average score of 15.300, with her double pike scoring 15.700. In contrast, the highest possible score from other competitors for a single vault was 15.600.
Reigning Olympic vault champion Rebeca Andrade of Brazil did not attempt a new skill that could have challenged Biles but performed two near-perfect vaults to win silver with 14.966 points. Jade Carey, who had a disappointing vault performance in Tokyo, redeemed herself with a bronze medal, averaging 14.466 on her two vaults despite an illness.
This marks the first time the U.S. has had two female gymnasts on the Olympic vault podium. Carey expressed the significance of her medal and the motivation it provided her.
Andrade considered a triple-twisting Yurchenko to challenge Biles but opted for a safer two-and-a-half twist due to a lack of full confidence. She acknowledged Biles’ exceptional skills as an inspiration.
Biles continues to perform at an elite level in her third Olympics, already securing three gold medals and with two more chances for medals in the balance beam and floor finals. She joked about her age but left the door open for a potential appearance in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
However, she plans to retire her Yurchenko double pike, acknowledging its physical and mental demands.
Landi expressed his satisfaction with her successful performances, indicating that the skill will be a notable part of her gymnastics legacy.
