Simone Biles delivered a near flawless floor exercise Sunday to wrap up her record eighth all-around U.S. gymnastics title at San Jose, Calif.
With less than a year remaining before the Paris Olympics, the 26-year-old Biles could be at the top of her game despite a bumpy path that has included time off after the Rio Olympics, a pause for the COVID-19 pandemic and then struggles and a bout with anxiety at the Tokyo Olympics, as well as more time off.
Biles set the U.S. mark by breaking a tie with Alfred Jochim, who won seven men’s titles in a run that ended in the 1930s.
Biles’ overall score of 118.450 included a 15.400 on her floor routine Sunday and was well ahead of overall runner-up Shi Jones (114.550) and Leanne Wong (111.100), who finished in third. Jones was second at last year’s world championships.
Skye Blakely (110.750) was fourth and Jordan Chiles (107.750) was fifth.
“I’ve been doing it for so long, I feel like I don’t think about numbers. I think about my performance,” Biles said on the NBC broadcast. “I think overall, I hit 8-for-8 (clean events). So eight, I guess it’s a lucky number this year.”
Saying she wants to keep her future plans private, Biles would not confirm that she has her sights set on Paris.
While Biles’ 15.400 on the floor exercise came under pressure, it did not top her 15.700 on her vault Friday. She delivered a 30.550 on two vaults and a 30.200 on a pair of floor exercises.
Nobody other than Biles had multiple scores of 15. Jones had a 15.000 on the bars Sunday.
–Field Level Media