Naomi Baker/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Simone Biles celebrates during the women’s team final at the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships.
CNN
—
Simone Biles says winning her 20th world championship gold medal feels “just as good as the first one” as the American continues to impress on her comeback to the sport.
On Wednesday, Biles played a key role in a historic victory for the US in the women’s team final at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.
Her impressive floor routine ensured the US won its seventh consecutive world title in the women’s team discipline.
Her latest world title comes exactly 10 years after Biles won her first at the same venue in 2013.
“I think each and every time you are crowned world champion, it feels a little bit different,” Biles told Heath Thorpe, via Gymnastics Now, after clinching her latest gold medal.
“I mean I’m still surprised that I’m still going. I’m 26, I’m a little bit older, so it feels just as good as the first one. Just because we broke records, we came together, we had fight. It’s different, but it’s exciting.”
At 26, Biles is considered a veteran of the sport and has the medals to match.
As the most decorated gymnast in US history, she has now won 26 world championship medals – 20 gold, three silver and three bronze.
The American gymnast has also tied Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo with the most overall medals (33) across the Olympics and the world championships.
“I’m not like 16 anymore. I’m 26. Everything feels different. I feel like I’m thinking a little bit more about my gymnastics. It’s not so carefree,” said Biles.
Naomi Baker/Getty Images
Biles has now won 20 world championship gold medals in her career.
By competing in Antwerp this time around, Biles became the first woman to represent the US at six artistic world gymnastics championships.
Even before Wednesday’s gold medal, it had already been an impressive competition for Biles, who made history on the opening day of the competition when she finished first in the women’s all-around qualification.
In the process, she became the first woman to land the Yurchenko double pike vault – a high-difficulty skill historically only done by men – at an international competition.
Former US gymnast Dominique Dawes told CNN This Morning on Thursday that what Biles is achieving in Belgium is “spectacular.”
“What she’s doing, I am in complete awe of. My kids are huge fans of Simone Biles and what I love is that she’s enjoying this journey,” said Dawes.
“She’s smiling along the way. She’s an amazing teammate, and she’s going to leave a lasting impact.”
Dawes is a three-time Olympian and part of the “Magnificent Seven” – the first American team to win a gold medal in women’s gymnastics at the 1996 Olympics.
The now retired gymnast said she was enjoying watching the US team express themselves on the world stage, an attitude that she credits Biles with fostering.
“They are bonding. They are friends. They are laughing, really enjoying this and there’s a significant amount of pressure on them,” Dawes said.
“I know being an Olympian three different times that you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. You’re representing your country and you recognize that millions and billions of people are watching you.
“However, they’re smiling. They are laughing. They’re enjoying every part of it. That’s what I love that Simone [Biles] has changed that aspect of the sport.”
This week has been Biles’ first competition back on the world stage since Tokyo 2020, when she pulled out of several events suffering from what is known as the “twisties” – a mental block causing a gymnast to lose track of their positions in midair.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the World Championships in 2019.
Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images
Biles talks with her grandfather, Ron, as she trains in Houston in August 2013. Biles grew up in Spring, Texas, just outside of Houston.
Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images
Biles competes on the balance beam during the US National Gymnastics Championships in August 2013. She won gold in the individual all-around.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Biles poses after winning a gold medal at the 2013 World Championships. She finished first in the individual all-around.
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Biles dodges a bee flying near her during the medal ceremony at the 2014 World Championships. She successfully defended her title in the individual all-around.
Leslye Davis/The New York Times/Redux
Biles, left, poses at home with her grandparents Ron and Nellie, who adopted her and her younger sister Adria, right.
Leslye Davis/The New York Times/Redux Pictures
Biles practices in Houston in January 2016.
Donald Miralle/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Biles, right, and fellow gymnast Gabby Douglas stand during the opening ceremony of the 2016 US Olympic Trials. Both made the team. Douglas was the Olympic all-around champion in 2012.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Biles celebrates with her teammates after the US Olympic Trials in 2016.
Damir Sagolj/Reuters
Biles competes on the balance beam at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She won gold in the individual all-around and the team all-around. She also added two more golds and a bronze.
Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
Biles competes on the uneven bars at the 2016 Olympics.
David Ramos/Getty Images
From left, US gymnasts Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas celebrate after winning gold in the team all-around at the 2016 Olympics.
Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images
Biles celebrates with the gold medal she earned for her individual all-around title at the 2016 Olympics.
Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/Getty Images
Biles has her legs held by host Jimmy Fallon as she plays a game called Hungry Hungry Humans on “The Tonight Show” in August 2016. Also playing were actor Donald Glover and some of Biles’ teammates.
Trae Patton/Handout/Spike TV/Getty Images
Biles poses with swimming legend Michael Phelps, Raisman and actress Olivia Munn during a recording of the show “Lip Sync Battle: All Stars Live” in September 2016.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
First lady Michelle Obama rests her elbow on Biles’ head as President Barack Obama speaks at the White House in September 2016. The Obamas were hosting an event for US Olympians.
Bob Levey/Getty Images
Biles takes a photo with a young fan in Houston in September 2016.
Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
Biles competes in “Dancing with the Stars” with Sasha Farber in 2017. They would finish in fourth place.
Image Group LA/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
Biles speaks after receiving the ESPY Award for best female athlete in 2017.
Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Biles performs with the Houston Texans cheerleaders in December 2017.
Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Biles competes on the uneven bars during the 2018 World Championships. She won gold in the individual all-around.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Biles soars through the air while competing on the uneven bars at the World Championships in 2019. Again, she won gold in the individual all-around.
Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images
Biles celebrates after winning the balance beam final at the 2019 World Championships.
Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
Natacha Pisarenko/AP
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Saul Loeb/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Terence Patrick/CBS/Getty Images
Biles appears on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” in September 2022. On the right is US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Dawes said she believes Biles would be returning to competition with “something to prove,” but praised how she handled her own struggles at the last Olympic Games.
“She was a game-changer in that right, because then more athletes felt comfortable speaking out about mental issues they were dealing with on and off the court. So she was able to make an impact in that regard,” Dawes said, predicting Biles could make the next two Olympic teams.
“As an athlete, you are a little remiss wishing you were able to make it fully through and I know she’s going to be able to do that in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
“I keep saying to my husband, I think this young lady can think about qualifying to her fourth Olympic Games in 2028 in LA.”
Before that, Biles has the chance to win yet more world championship medals.
She will take part in the women’s individual all-around final on Friday, before the women’s vault and uneven bars finals on October 7 and the balance beam and floor exercise finals the following day.
