Simone Biles, widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, has two distinct moves named “Biles II,” each demonstrating her unmatched ability in both vault and floor disciplines. These moves set new benchmarks in gymnastics for their difficulty and innovation.
The Biles II (Vault)
On vault, the Biles II (Yurchenko double pike) is a high-risk move that demands incredible power and precision, involving two backflips in a pike position after a round-off and back handspring onto the vaulting table.
This skill, which she first revealed in 2021, is considered one of the most difficult vaults in gymnastics history. Biles has successfully performed it in major competitions like the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Difficulty Score of the Biles II Vault
The Biles II vault currently holds a difficulty score of 6.4 points. This is the highest difficulty score ever assigned to a women’s vault, highlighting its technical complexity and risk. To put it in perspective, most other vaults performed in elite competition range from 4.0 to 5.8 in difficulty.
This vault had never been attempted by a woman in competition before Biles, further showcasing her dominance in the sport.
Analyzing the Biles II Vault in Slow Motion
Watching the move in slow motion reveals the incredible precision, power, and technique required to execute it successfully. Let’s break down the key phases of the vault:
1. Approach and Round-off Entry
The first stage of the Biles II vault is the approach. Biles sprints toward the vaulting table, gathering momentum for the explosive power needed later. At the end of the runway, she executes a round-off onto the springboard.
The round-off is critical as it converts forward momentum into backward motion. Biles’ hands contact the board while she’s upside down, propelling her body into a back handspring.
2. Back Handspring onto the Vault Table
Immediately after the round-off, Biles executes a back handspring onto the vaulting table. In this phase, the goal is to transfer the power from her legs into a perfectly timed push from her arms as she contacts the table.
Her body is stretched out to maximize the height and rotation she’ll need for the double pike that follows. Slow-motion analysis highlights the precision required here: her hands must hit the table at just the right angle and force to ensure a powerful take-off for the next phase.
3. Push-off and Pike Position
As Biles pushes off the vault table, the magic happens. She generates massive upward force, lifting her into the air. From here, she immediately tucks her body into a pike position—legs straight and bent at the hips, with her arms reaching toward her legs.
The pike position helps her rotate quickly while maintaining a tight body line. Slow-motion footage shows her incredible control and balance, maintaining perfect form as she starts her flips.
4. Two Backward Flips
In this phase, Biles performs two full backward flips in the pike position. What’s remarkable is her ability to maintain the pike form, which slows rotation slightly compared to a tucked position, making the double pike an extremely challenging move.
Each flip is precisely executed, and in slow motion, you can see how compact she remains to ensure that her rotations are completed in time for the landing.
5. Blind Landing
Perhaps the most awe-inspiring part of the Biles II is the blind landing. After completing the two flips, Biles cannot see the ground until the very last moment. This requires extraordinary spatial awareness and timing.
In slow motion, we see her open up from the pike position just in time to spot the floor and prepare for a solid landing. The slow-motion view of her landing emphasizes her strength, as she absorbs the impact with minimal movement, sticking the landing despite the immense forces acting on her body.
The Biles II (Floor Exercise)
On floor, the Biles II (triple-twisting double backflip) is a technical marvel, combining a double backflip with three twists mid-air. It is one of the most complex and physically demanding moves in gymnastics.
This skill requires immense strength, body control, and spatial awareness, pushing the boundaries of what is humanly possible in gymnastics.
Difficulty of The Biles II (Floor Exercise):
The Biles II on floor is one of the most difficult skills performed by any gymnast on the floor exercise. It has a difficulty score of J, the highest rating in the Code of Points for women’s gymnastics.
This move is not just physically demanding but also incredibly risky—misjudging even the slightest part of the execution could result in a poor landing or injury.
Analyzing the Biles II on Floor in Slow Motion
Watching the Biles II on floor in slow motion gives us a deeper appreciation for Simone Biles’ extraordinary abilities:
1. Powerful Take-off
The Biles II starts with a strong and explosive run-up. As Biles approaches her tumbling pass, she generates enough momentum to propel herself high into the air. The power generated from her legs during the take-off is crucial for completing two backflips and three twists.
Slow motion reveals just how efficiently Biles transfers energy into the ground, launching herself with tremendous height, which is essential for completing the multiple rotations and twists.
2. First Flip with Twist Initiation
As Biles leaves the ground, she immediately begins to initiate the first backflip while simultaneously starting the first of her three twists. This combination of flipping and twisting requires extreme coordination. In slow motion, you can see her body beginning to twist while staying tight and controlled in the air.
The key is how quickly she rotates, ensuring there’s enough time to complete both flips and all three twists. The slow-motion perspective emphasizes the difficulty of executing twists while inverted.
3. Mid-Air: Triple Twist and Double Backflip
In the air, Biles completes three full twists while performing two backflips. Each twist requires perfect alignment and control to avoid losing orientation mid-air.
The slow-motion analysis shows Biles’ compact body form, with her legs and arms pulled in to accelerate the rotations. The precision with which she executes these rotations is impressive, as she must ensure that both the flips and twists are completed in time to allow for a safe landing.
In slow motion, you can appreciate the extraordinary coordination required for the triple-twist and double-backflip combination. Every movement is calculated: Biles’ legs stay close to her body to maximize rotational speed, while her core remains tight to maintain control during the flips.
4. Spotting the Floor
One of the most crucial moments in the Biles II is spotting the floor for the landing. After completing the flips and twists, Biles opens up her body at the right moment to prepare for landing. This is where her spatial awareness comes into play.
In slow motion, you can see how Biles adjusts her body position slightly as she completes the final twist and begins to prepare for impact with the floor.
Given the height and speed at which she is rotating, spotting the floor is not just about timing but also about control. The slow-motion footage reveals her exceptional ability to locate the ground and adjust her body for the perfect landing.
5. Controlled Landing
The landing of the Biles II is one of the most critical aspects of the move. After completing two flips and three twists, Biles needs to absorb the impact with precise control to stick the landing.
In slow motion, you can see how she bends her knees slightly on impact, using her legs to absorb the shock and maintain her balance. Despite the high-risk nature of the move, Biles often lands with minimal movement, demonstrating her incredible strength and control.
In slow motion, the precision of her landing becomes even more apparent. Any small misstep could result in a stumble or a fall, but Biles’ execution is consistently flawless, reflecting her mastery of this complex skill.
Conclusion
Overall, both of these moves are incredibly difficult and have been performed by no other female gymnast in competition, setting Simone Biles apart as a true pioneer.
