Simone Biles wins record 9th all-around title at U.S. championships ahead of Paris Olympics

Simone Biles has achieved yet another historic milestone, securing her ninth national all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday night. Biles delivered an almost flawless performance across all four apparatuses, solidifying her preparation for a third Olympic appearance this summer in Paris.

The victory ensures Biles’ participation in the U.S. Olympic Trials later this summer. With this win, she becomes the first gymnast, male or female, to claim nine all-around national titles. She had previously set the record with her eighth win last year, surpassing Alfred Jochim. At that time, she also became the oldest woman to win the title.
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Biles concluded the competition with an all-around total score of 119.750. Despite a fall on the vault during her Yurchenko double pike, which resulted in a one-point deduction, she maintained her dominance throughout the event. This fall marked her first of the season.

This latest triumph follows her victory at the U.S. Classic last month, where she easily won the all-around title. At the U.S. Championships, Skye Blakely finished in second place with a score of 113.850, just ahead of Kayla DiCello, who secured the bronze with a score of 110.800. Shilese Jones did not compete due to a shoulder injury, but both she and Kaliya Lincoln received petitions to participate in the Olympic Trials.

Biles is making a strong comeback ahead of the Paris Olympics after leading Team USA to a team title at the World Gymnastics Championships last fall and being named The Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year in 2023.

As she progresses through the qualifying stages this summer, Biles is expected to be one of the most watched athletes in Paris. This will be her first Olympic appearance since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she faced the “twisties” and withdrew from several events. Now, Biles appears to be back in top form, with the Olympic trials set to begin on June 27 in Minneapolis, a month before the Paris Games’ opening ceremony.