Simone Biles makes history at the World Gymnastics Championships after completing a vault challenge

Simone Biles made history in her return to international gymnastics competition after completing one of the sport’s toughest vaults on Sunday.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist becomes first woman to land a Yurchenko double pike vault at international level World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Belgium. The video shows the 26-year-old sprinting down the runway before doing a spin on the trampoline, then doing a backflip onto the trampoline and finishing with a double somersault. When she landed on her feet, the audience responded with loud applause.

It is considered the most challenging vault in women’s gymnastics, with a difficulty rating of 6.4 – more than any other type of vault. Reuters reported. It will also be renamed Biles II because it was completed in an international competition, adding to a total of five skills to its name, according to the British Daily Mail. Team USA. I did Bills before This vault is in the United States in 2018Only male gymnasts in international competitions have done this before.

There’s a reason this wasn’t done before. Her coach, Laurent Landy, said on “60 Minutes” in 2021 that this was a “very difficult” step.

“What’s scary [is]“People can get hurt,” Landy said. “If you make a short landing, you could hurt your ankles. It’s a very dangerous vault.”

“She opened her eyes to everyone that this can be done, whereas I think a lot of people think a female can’t do it,” Landy’s wife, Cecile, told 60 Minutes.

The vault adds to her list of recent – ​​and professional – accomplishments. Her appearance at the World Championships was her sixth time competing, an unprecedented accomplishment, according to USA Gymnastics. It also comes more than a month after Biles’ win Record eighth USA gymnastics title. While Biles is in the middle of trying to make a comeback yet A break of about two years She has not yet announced whether she will participate in the Paris Olympics next year or not.

What is Yurchenko double shaft vault?

This routine requires landing in a circle on the springboard, backflip with hand on the jumping table, and flipping twice. The move was first performed by Natalia Yurchenko, a world champion who competed under the Soviet Union. She completed it during the World Championships in Budapest in 1983 as part of the performance that earned her the all-around gold medal in the event, according to International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

What skills are Biles named after?

Simone Biles has four other skills named after her: two on floor, one on balance beam and vault, according to the British Daily Mail. USA Gymnastics. The Biles floor element is a double semicircular design – the half is sort of rounded – while the Biles II is a double salto twisting triple back. Salto is the hands-free face.

On the balance beam, Biles’ move consists of double twists and double backflips. Similar to her newly named move, Biles’ vault consists of a half Yurchenko with two rolls.