By Miguel Rapetti
03 Jun 2024, 00:32 AM EDT
The award-winning gymnast Simone Biles made history again this Sunday by winning her ninth national title and warming up for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Biles revalidated her title during the championship held in Fort Worth, Texas, and expanded her record just a year after she broke the record for most local championships that dated back to 1933 and was held by Alfred Joachim.
The athlete fully fulfilled what was expected of her, finishing with a total of 119.750 and almost six points ahead of the second classified, Skye Blakely, confirming the leadership she had been showing since Saturday when she was already ahead in the count with a 60.450 .
This triumph for Biles, who had the presence of her family in the stands in Fort Worth, adds to the titles won in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Now Biles’ next challenge will be to appear at the United States Olympic team trials that are scheduled between June 27 and 30, in search of expanding the four gold medals she has already accumulated in her record.
Biles had returned to compete on August 5, 2023 in Chicago, when she triumphed after 732 days of absence with an outstanding performance. She then won with 59,100 points and 5,000 ahead of Leanne Wong, second.
Before her return in August 2023, Biles had taken time to focus on her mental health and also became one of the most respected voices in the defense of athletes’ rights.
The American gymnast also reported on her social networks her engagement to Jonathan Owens, a player for the Houston Texans in the NFL, whom she married on April 24, 2023.
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