Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, has made significant contributions to the sport, including several groundbreaking moves that bear her name. This article provides an in-depth look at the gymnastics elements named after her, detailing each move’s specifications, execution, and significance.
| Move Name | Date | Event | Difficulty Score | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Biles (Floor) | 2013 World Championships | Floor exercise | G (6.4) | Double layout with a half twist. |
| The Biles I (Amanar) | 2016 Olympics | Vault | H (5.8) | Yurchenko-style vault with a round-off and 2.5 twists. |
| The Biles (Beam) | 2019 World Championships | Balance beam | H (5.6) | Dismount with two flips and two twists. |
| The Biles II (Floor) | 2019 U.S. National Championships | Floor exercise | J (6.8) | Triple-twisting double backflip. |
| The Biles II (Vault) | 2023 World Championships | Vault | J (6.4) | Yurchenko double pike with two flips in a pike position. |
| Potential New Move (Bars) | Expected at 2024 Paris Olympics | Uneven bars | Not yet rated | Hip circle forward with 1.5 turns to a handstand. |
1. The Biles (Floor Exercise)
- Date: 2013 World Championships
- Event: Floor exercise
- Difficulty Score: G (6.4)
- Description: A double layout with a half twist
The Biles on floor is a spectacular display of power and precision. It involves a double back layout (two backflips with the body fully extended) with a half twist incorporated into the second flip.
Technical Details:
- Takeoff: The gymnast generates powerful momentum from a round-off back handspring, launching into the air with exceptional height and speed.
- First Flip: The first backflip is executed in a clean layout position, demonstrating full body control and extension.
- Half Twist: As the gymnast initiates the second flip, a half twist is performed. This requires precise timing and core engagement to maintain body alignment.
- Second Flip: The second backflip continues in the layout position, completing the double layout sequence.
- Landing: The gymnast sticks the landing, absorbing the impact with controlled leg flexion and maintaining a strong and balanced posture.
Difficulty Analysis:
The Biles (Floor) is rated as a G skill, with a difficulty score of 6.4. This high rating is a testament to its complexity and the level of skill required for successful execution.
The difficulty arises from several factors:
- Double Layout: Performing two backflips in a layout position demands tremendous power and flexibility.
- Half Twist: Adding the half twist during the second flip increases the technical challenge significantly. It requires exceptional body awareness and coordination.
- Landing: Sticking the landing after such a dynamic skill adds another layer of difficulty, demanding precision and control.
Simone Biles first debuted this move during podium training at the 2013 World Championships.
She continues to execute it with remarkable consistency and flair, often incorporating it as a highlight of her tumbling passes. Her recent performances at the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics showcased her mastery of this skill, earning her high scores and contributing to her medal wins.
2. The Biles I (Vault – Amanar)
- Date: 2016 Olympics
- Event: Vault
- Difficulty Score: H (5.8)
- Description: A Yurchenko-style vault with a round-off onto the board, back handspring onto the vaulting table, and 2.5 twists.
The Biles I, also referred to as the “Amanar upgrade,” is a Yurchenko-style vault that showcases a stunning blend of power, technique, and aerial mastery. It involves a round-off entry onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vaulting table, and 2.5 twists in the air before landing.
Technical Details:
- Round-off Entry: The gymnast initiates the vault with a powerful round-off onto the springboard, generating momentum for the subsequent phases.
- Back Handspring: A dynamic back handspring is executed onto the vaulting table, transferring the momentum upward.
- Pre-flight: The gymnast pushes off the table with immense force, entering a powerful pre-flight phase.
- 2.5 Twists: During the pre-flight phase, the gymnast performs 2.5 twists, showcasing exceptional spatial awareness and control.
- Landing: The gymnast sticks the landing, absorbing the impact with controlled leg flexion and maintaining a strong, balanced posture.
Difficulty Analysis:
The Biles I is rated as an H skill, with a difficulty score of 5.8. This high rating underscores its complexity and the extraordinary athleticism required for its execution.
Several factors contribute to its difficulty:
- Yurchenko Entry: The round-off back handspring entry demands exceptional timing and coordination.
- 2.5 Twists: Performing 2.5 twists in the limited time of the pre-flight phase necessitates tremendous power, speed, and aerial awareness.
- Landing: Sticking the landing after such a dynamic and complex vault is a challenge in itself, requiring precise control and balance.
While the Biles I is not as frequently performed in recent competitions as some of her other signature moves, it remains a testament to her vaulting prowess. She has showcased it at various events, including the 2018 World Championships and the 2019 U.S. National Championships, consistently demonstrating her mastery of this skill.
3. The Biles (Beam)
- Date: 2019 World Championships
- Event: Balance beam
- Difficulty Score: H (5.6)
- Description: A dismount featuring two twists and two flips.
The Biles on beam is a breathtaking dismount that combines power, flexibility, and technical mastery. It involves a double-twisting double backflip, executed with remarkable precision and control.
Technical Details:
- Set-up: The gymnast typically initiates the move from a standing position at the end of the beam.
- Backflip Initiation: A powerful jump propels the gymnast backward, initiating the first backflip.
- First Twist: During the first backflip, the gymnast executes a full twist, showcasing exceptional body awareness and coordination.
- Second Backflip: The momentum carries the gymnast into a second backflip.
- Second Twist: A second full twist is performed during the second backflip, adding to the complexity and difficulty of the skill.
- Landing: The gymnast sticks the landing, absorbing the impact with controlled leg flexion and maintaining a strong and balanced posture.
Difficulty Analysis:
The Biles (Beam) is rated as an H skill, with a difficulty score of 5.6. This high rating is a testament to its technical challenge and the immense skill required for its execution.
Several factors contribute to its difficulty:
- Double Backflip: Performing two backflips in quick succession demands significant power and flexibility, especially on the narrow surface of the balance beam.
- Double Twist: Incorporating two full twists into the flips adds a layer of complexity, requiring precise timing and core engagement.
- Beam Dismount: Executing such a dynamic skill from the beam requires exceptional balance and control, as any slight error can lead to a fall.
- Landing: Sticking the landing after such a complex and powerful dismount is crucial, showcasing the gymnast’s mastery and control.
The Biles (Beam) has become a signature move in Simone’s beam routines. She continues to perform it with remarkable consistency and flair, often earning high execution scores and captivating audiences with her skill and artistry. Recent performances at major competitions, including the 2023 World Championships, have showcased her continued mastery of this move.
4. The Biles II (Floor Exercise)
- Date: 2019 U.S. National Championships
- Event: Floor exercise
- Difficulty Score: J (6.8)
- Description: A triple-twisting double backflip in a tucked position
The Biles II on floor is a gravity-defying feat of athleticism and skill. It involves a triple-twisting double backflip, a move so complex and challenging that it had never been performed by a woman in competition before Simone Biles.
Technical Details:
- Takeoff: A powerful round-off back handspring generates the necessary height and momentum for the skill.
- First Flip: The gymnast initiates the first backflip, tucking the body tightly to facilitate the rapid rotation.
- Triple Twist: During the first flip, the gymnast executes three full twists, requiring exceptional spatial awareness, core strength, and coordination.
- Second Flip: The gymnast opens out of the tuck and performs a second backflip, maintaining control and body alignment.
- Landing: A controlled landing is essential, absorbing the impact with leg flexion and maintaining a strong and balanced posture.
Difficulty Analysis:
The Biles II is rated as a J skill, with a difficulty score of 6.8. This is the highest difficulty score awarded to any women’s floor exercise skill, reflecting its extraordinary complexity and the immense skill required for execution.
Several factors contribute to its difficulty:
- Triple Twist: Performing three full twists in a single backflip is a feat of athleticism that demands exceptional power, speed, and coordination.
- Double Backflip: Completing a second backflip after the triple twist requires maintaining momentum and control, even after the demanding twisting element.
- Landing: Sticking the landing after such a dynamic and complex skill is a challenge in itself, requiring precise control and balance.
The Biles II remains a highlight of Simone’s floor routines, captivating audiences with its sheer audacity and technical brilliance. She continues to perform it with remarkable consistency, often incorporating it as the final tumbling pass in her routines, leaving a lasting impression on judges and spectators alike.
5. The Biles II (Vault)
- Date: 2023 World Championships
- Event: Vault
- Difficulty Score: J (6.4)
- Description: A Yurchenko double pike, involving two flips in a pike position.
The Biles II on vault, also known as the Yurchenko double pike, is a gravity-defying display of power, flexibility, and technical mastery. It involves a round-off entry onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vaulting table, followed by two backflips in a piked position (legs straight, body folded at the hips) before landing.
Technical Details:
- Round-off Entry: The gymnast initiates the vault with a powerful round-off onto the springboard, generating momentum for the subsequent phases.
- Back Handspring: A dynamic back handspring is executed onto the vaulting table, transferring the momentum upward.
- Pre-flight and Pike: The gymnast pushes off the table with immense force, entering a powerful pre-flight phase. During this phase, the gymnast quickly transitions into a piked position, bringing their legs up towards their chest.
- Double Backflip: While maintaining the piked position, the gymnast performs two backflips, demonstrating exceptional core strength and body control.
- Landing: The gymnast extends their legs and sticks the landing, absorbing the impact with controlled leg flexion and maintaining a strong, balanced posture.
Difficulty Analysis:
The Biles II is rated as a J skill, with a difficulty score of 6.4. This is the highest difficulty score ever awarded to a women’s vault, reflecting its extraordinary complexity and the immense skill required for execution.
Several factors contribute to its difficulty:
- Yurchenko Entry: The round-off back handspring entry demands exceptional timing and coordination.
- Double Pike: Performing two backflips in a piked position requires tremendous power, flexibility, and core strength. Maintaining the pike position throughout the flips is particularly challenging, as it limits the gymnast’s ability to generate rotational momentum.
- Landing: Sticking the landing after such a dynamic and complex vault is crucial, requiring precise control and balance.
Simone Biles made history at the 2019 U.S. Classic by becoming the first woman to ever successfully perform the Yurchenko double pike in competition. She further cemented her legacy by repeating this feat at the 2023 World Championships. The Biles II stands as a symbol of her groundbreaking achievements and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of the sport.
6. Potential New Move on Bars (Pending Name)
- Date: 2024 Paris Olympics
- Event: Uneven bars
- Difficulty Score: Not yet rated
- Description: A hip circle forward with 1.5 turns to a handstand.
This potential new move, yet to be officially named, involves a daring combination of a hip circle forward with 1.5 turns to a handstand.
Technical Details:
- Hip Circle Initiation: The gymnast begins with a powerful hip circle forward, swinging their body around the high bar.
- 1.5 Turns: During the hip circle, the gymnast executes 1.5 turns, demonstrating exceptional body control and spatial awareness.
- Handstand: The gymnast seamlessly transitions into a precise handstand on the high bar, showcasing their strength and balance.
- Dismount: The gymnast then continues into their chosen dismount, adding further complexity and difficulty to the routine.
Difficulty Analysis:
The difficulty score for this move is yet to be officially rated, but experts anticipate it to be high, potentially earning a G or even an H rating. This reflects the significant technical challenge and the risk involved in its execution.
Several factors contribute to its difficulty:
- Hip Circle and Turns: Combining a hip circle with 1.5 turns requires exceptional core strength, coordination, and timing. Maintaining control and body alignment throughout the multiple turns is particularly challenging.
- Handstand Transition: The seamless transition from the turns into a handstand demands precise control and balance. Any slight error can lead to a loss of momentum or a fall.
- Dismount: The move’s difficulty is further amplified by the subsequent dismount, which adds another layer of complexity and risk.
While this move hasn’t been performed in competition yet, its potential debut at the Paris Olympics is eagerly awaited by fans and experts alike. If performed successfully, this move would mark Biles’ sixth named skill, further cementing her dominance across all four gymnastics events.
