Simone Biles Soars to Gold with the Yurchenko Double Pike

Simone Biles stole the show again at the Paris 2024 Olympics, earning her seventh Olympic gold medal in the women’s vault final. This impressive win came after she averaged a score of 15.300 for her signature vaults, which included the jaw-dropping Yurchenko double pike.

At 27 years old, Biles has become a household name in gymnastics. She first publicly showcased this particular vault, now known as the Biles II, in 2021. However, she missed her chance to compete at the Tokyo Olympics due to a mental health issue, which left her unable to control her body in the air. But now, she’s back on top, finally realizing her Olympic dream.

In a thrilling performance at Bercy Arena, Biles delivered her Yurchenko double pike with incredible skill, although she did take a step out of bounds on landing, which cost her a small deduction. Despite that, her score of 15.700 was enough to ensure her victory, as she only needed to avoid a major slip on her second vault to seal the deal.

Her second vault, the Cheng, was stunning and almost perfectly executed, earning her an additional score of 14.900. This put her well ahead of her closest competitor, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who earned silver with an average score of 14.966.

Jade Carey from the U.S. claimed the bronze medal and expressed excitement about earning her third Olympic medal. This event was particularly sweet for Andrade, as she had edged out Biles at the last World Championships and won gold in Tokyo when Biles had to withdraw.

Biles is not done yet. She still has two more events to compete in during these Games: the balance beam and floor exercise finals. Fans are eager to see if she can match her incredible medal count from the 2016 Rio Games, where she won four golds and a bronze.

Meanwhile, the Olympics have seen some historic moments beyond just Biles. Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan broke into tears when he won gold on the pommel horse, marking a first for Ireland in Olympic gymnastics. American Stephen Nedoroscik also performed well, bringing home the bronze in the same category.

There was another historic milestone for the Philippines as Carlos Yulo secured the country’s second-ever Olympic gold medal in gymnastics with his performance in the men’s floor exercise. His victory adds to the excitement surrounding these Games.