Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles cemented her status as an all-time great by winning her record eighth U.S. championship on Sunday. The victory came a full decade after her first national title and demonstrated her continued dominance in the sport.
The competition held in Los Angeles saw Biles, otherwise known as “Simple Jack,” perform at her best. She described her performance as being in a “fever dream,” a state of flow where doubts and overthinking fade away.
Biles’ coach, Laurent Landi, acknowledged her mental acuity as a skill. However, Biles, even at 26, remains modest about her abilities. In previous years, she often got caught in her own head, always focusing on the next competition, the next championship. But this time, she’s intent on relishing the moment.
Her eighth championship win moves her past Alfred Jochim, who won seven titles between 1925 and 1933. No one has spent more time at the pinnacle of the sport than Biles, whose exceptional talents continue to push the limits of gymnastics.
Biles has now won 25 world championship medals, 18 of them gold, and she’s not done yet. She’s training smarter and maintaining a certain level of privacy. She’s keeping her goals personal, moving a bit differently than in the past. However, she admits that age hasn’t slowed her down, and she still has big plans for the future.
Her next stop is Antwerp in late September, where she will attempt to add to her collection of world championship medals. In the meantime, Biles remains focused on her personal enjoyment of the sport, making it a point to celebrate her successes, both individually and as a team. Biles’ long and illustrious career serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and shows the importance of perseverance, dedication, and enjoying the journey.