USA team title gives Biles record tally of 21 medals

Simone Biles won a record 21st medal at the world gymnastics championships yesterday as the USA retained the women’s team title. It was Biles’ 15th career gold and broke a tie with Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina for the most medals overall by a woman at the world championships. She’s now two short of Vitaly Scherbo’s all-time record of 23 among men or women.

“Every year it feels better and better just because we’re adding to the legacy,” Biles said. “I feel like I never think of records. I just go out there and do what I came to do, which is compete for the country.” The United States scored 172.330 points to beat second-place Russia by 5.801 points and win a seventh consecutive team title at an Olympics or world championships.

The reward for winning was a battery-powered medal which lights up when it senses movement. Biles called it “the slickest medal we’ve ever had.”

Biles posted the best individual scores on the vault, balance beam and floor.

“I think if I do the routine that I did tonight I’ll be more than happy in Thursday’s individual all-around final”, she added.

A fall for Sunisa Lee on beam on her world championship debut and a fumbled routine from Grace Mccallum on the uneven bars left USA with room for improvement, though both were strong on other apparatus.

“It’s just so surreal to come out here and end up on top with the strength of the team that we have, even after having a couple falls,” Biles said.