Simone Biles becomes first woman to land a Yurchenko double pike vault at World Gymnastics Championships
Simone Biles, who retired from gymnastics to focus on her mental health after withdrawing from the all-around competition at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, achieves a Yurchenko double pike jump at the World Gymnastics Championships
Last updated: 01/10/23 10:37 PM
Simone Biles became the first woman to land a double pike locker from Yurchenko
American Simone Biles became the first woman to complete a double pike jump from Yurchenko at the World Gymnastics Championships.
The 26-year-old climbed to first place in the all-round qualification in Antwerp, where she competed internationally for the first time since a two-year break.
Biles stepped away from the sport to focus on her mental health after withdrawing from the all-around competition at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
She explained that she suffered from the ‘twisties’, which caused her to lose her sense of space while in the air.
Biles scored 15.266 for landing the double pike of Yurchenko and 58.865 in the all-around overall.
Meanwhile, Max Whitlock, Harry Hepworth, Jake Jarman, James Hall and Courtney Tulloch finished third in qualifying as the British men reached Tuesday’s final.
Jessica Gadirova, Ondine Achampong, Alice Kinsella, Georgia-Mae Fenton and Ruby Evans are in second ahead of the qualifying finish on Monday, with the women’s final on Wednesday.