Simone Biles secured her place on a record-breaking sixth world championships team, making her the oldest U.S. woman to compete at worlds in over 50 years. The selection took place at a USA Gymnastics world team selection camp in Katy, Texas, where Biles emerged victorious in the all-around competition, earning one of the six roster spots. Despite falling during her routines on the uneven bars and Yurchenko double pike vault, Biles managed to prevail with a total score of 55.7 points, winning by a margin of four tenths over Shilese Jones. Notably, Biles scored lower on the balance beam and floor exercise compared to her performance at the U.S. all-around championships last month.
During August’s nationals, Biles achieved impressive all-around totals of 59.3 and 59.15, along with a score of 59.1 at an earlier meet. These scores rank as the top three all-around scores in the world since the Tokyo Olympics, according to the Gymternet. Jones, the 2022 World all-around silver medalist, had the opportunity to outscore Biles in a one-day all-around event, just as Suni Lee did on the second day of the Tokyo Olympic Trials. However, despite her strong performance, Jones was unable to replicate her leading scores on the uneven bars and ultimately fell short.
The remaining spots on the world team will be determined by a committee following the conclusion of a second day of camp competition on Wednesday night. As the oldest U.S. women’s all-around champion in modern history, Biles has now become the oldest gymnast to make a world team since at least 1970, according to USA Gymnastics records. Previously, Doris Fuchs Brause competed in the 1966 Worlds at the age of 28. In addition to breaking this record, Biles will also surpass the tie she currently holds with several other American gymnasts for the most appearances at world championships.
Other contenders for the world team include the five members from the 2022 World roster, namely Shilese Jones, Tokyo Olympic medalists Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, as well as Leanne Wong and Skye Blakely. The final team will be announced, along with the designation of an alternate, closer to the start of the world championships on October 1st in Antwerp, Belgium.
