Simone Biles Makes HERstory With 8th All-Around National Title

That girl is on fire, and there’s no denying it. Simone Biles clocked her 8th all-around title at the US gymnastics championships over the weekend, and the win pushes her into the history books—again.

Biles first won her first all-around title 10 years ago at the age of 16, and now at 26, this accomplishment also makes her the oldest woman to snag a record eight golds at a national meet. She already holds the title of most decorated US gymnast overall, and the world is gearing up to watch her at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

“I think it feels really special,” Simone Biles said after locking in her record-winning feat. “I’ve been doing it for so long, I feel like I don’t think about numbers, I think about my performance. And I think, overall, I hit eight for eight (routines). … I guess it’s a lucky number this year.”

This chapter in the powerhouse gymnast’s career is special. During the 2020 Summer Olympics, she withdrew from several of her events after saying she was experiencing a case of the “twisties,” a term gymnasts use to describe being off balance. She later spoke out about her mental health as well, as it relates to the sport.

In 2021, Biles was one of several female gymnasts that testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee that she blamed “the entire system” for enabling and perpetuating Larry Nassar’s (the physician for the women’s team who was found guilty of sexual assault) crimes, saying that USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee “failed to do their jobs”. 

After taking time away to not only regroup from this traumatic event and life experience, the Texas native met and fell in love with her now husband, NFL star Jonathan Owens. The two wed in April 2023, and just months later she was back on the floor, dominating the gymnastics world as only she can. And well, this time, the star athlete just looks much more relaxed and happy to be doing what she loves.

Join EBONY in congratulating her once again!

The post Simone Biles Makes HERstory With 8th All-Around National Title appeared first on EBONY.

Updated: August 28, 2023 — 12:02 pm