FORT WORTH, Texas — Simone Biles took approximately six seconds to build an insurmountable lead over the rest of the field at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships on Friday, as she began her quest for a ninth national all-around title. That’s the power the Yurchenko double pike, also known as the Biles II, holds. It earned Biles a massive 15.800, giving her a 1.3-point cushion over second place after the first rotation.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist displayed her usual dominance throughout the other three events. She capped night one of the two-day event with a 15.200 on floor exercise where she was rewarded for her challenging tumbling runs. She nailed both eponymous skills — the triple-twisting double back tuck and the double back layout with a half twist — and kept both in bounds, avoiding the one major deduction she habitually incurs.
SIMONE BILES ‼️
She leads the women’s all-around competition after night one with a score of 60.450.#XfinityChamps pic.twitter.com/oTjvQX6PHh
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 1, 2024
Biles finished night one of the competition with a 60.450, her highest all-around total since the 2021 Olympic Trials. Skye Blakely, the only gymnast besides Biles to record a 15.000 score, sits second in the all-around with a…
