US Simone Biles, the American gymnastics superstar, made a triumphant comeback after a two-year hiatus, winning her 21st world title in the women’s all-around at the world championships on Friday.
Simone Biles won her first world title in Antwerp a decade ago, and she returned to the same city to dominate the all-around final again, scoring 58.399 points to beat defending champion Rebeca Andrade of Brazil (56.766) and American teammate Shilese Jones (56.332).
At 26, Biles also secured a team gold with the United States earlier in the week, a feat achieved less than ten months before the Paris Olympics.
This latest victory, her sixth world all-around title, brings Biles’ total world medal count to an impressive 27.
Her potential for further podium finishes remains high, as she is still in contention for four more events in the apparatus finals over the weekend.
This achievement is a remarkable comeback for the Texan, especially considering it comes two years after the Tokyo Olympics.
Upon arriving in Japan, Biles, who was considered a strong contender due to her four gold medals earned five years prior in Rio de Janeiro, faced a challenging situation.
Simone Biles explained that she was struggling with the “twisties,” a mental block that causes gymnasts to lose their spatial awareness in the air, which can lead to injuries when they land.