Simone Biles Wins Record Eighth National All-Around Gymnastics Title

Simone Biles won a record eighth national title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday.

The 26-year-old gymnast’s eighth all-around title broke her tie with Alfred Jochim, who won his seventh title in 1933.

The four-time Olympic Gold medalist, widely considered the greatest of all time, won her first national title ten years ago, shortly after turning 16. She went on to win a record 25 world championship medals.

Biles took a break after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she withdrew from all but one event due to a case of “the twisties” brought on by a combination of high expectations and the early days of Covid-19 isolation protocols.

Biles took an extended absence, and married NFL player Jonathan Owens in the spring, but rather than retire on a low note, she came back over the weekend to perform at the highest level once again.

“Simone Biles, Master of the Mat — character, competency, and accomplishments, she’s got them all,” said strategic communications consultant Robbie Vorhaus, founder and CEO of Vorhaus Communications, Inc.

Despite not doing the notorious Yurchenko double pike due to a tweaked ankle, Biles completed a Cheng, the second most difficult vault, earning a score of 14.85. A balance beam routine packed with a series of seamless tricks earned a 14.85, while she scored a 14.050 on the uneven parallel bars.

For her last event, Biles landed every tumbling pass of her floor routine, including the Biles I, which she made famous in 2013. She finished 3.9 points ahead of Shilese Jones, claiming the title after receiving a 15.400 on her floor exercise.

She will now head to the world championships, which kick off Sept. 30 in Antwerp, Belgium.