Simone Biles: The 5 Gymnastic Moves Named After the Athlete
Moves are named after the first gymnast who completes them in an international competition, according to FIG.
Simone Biles has made a lasting impact on the sport of gymnastics.
The seven-time Olympic medalist is the most decorated gymnast in history, with 37 Olympic and World Championship medals to her name. President Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022—making her the youngest person to ever receive one—for her contributions to society, both as a history-making gymnast and as an advocate for mental health, sexual assault victims, and children in foster care. She has landed gymnastic moves that no other female gymnast has done before—not just one or two, but five.
She has two moves on vault, two on floor exercise, and one on balance beam. Moves are named after the first gymnast who completes them in an international competition, according to the International Gymnastics Federation Code of Points (FIG). The move must also be above a certain difficulty level.
The floor routine of Simone Biles at her third Olympic Games.
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At the Paris Games, Biles has the opportunity to secure a sixth signature move named after her, this time on the uneven bars. If successful, it would mean she will have skills named after her in every apparatus.
But before the athlete goes on to collect more high achievements, here’s what to know about the current five gymnastic moves named after the GOAT.
The Biles on Floor
This was the first skill Biles had named after her, back at the 2013 World Championships when she was 16. The move is a double-back layout with a half twist.
The Biles II on Floor
The second floor move named after Biles is a triple-double that she landed at the 2019 World Championships. The move includes two flips and three twists in a tucked position.
The Biles on Vault
The first vault move is a roundoff on the springboard connected to a half turn onto the vault with two full twists. Biles unveiled it for the first time at the USA Gymnastics 2018 World Team Selection Camp and debuted it while competing at the 2018 Worlds, where it was officially named after her.
The Biles II on Vault
This vault move was named after Biles at the World Championships in 2023. Biles began doing this vault in 2021 but didn’t perform it at a Worlds or Olympics until the 2023 World Championships. With a 6.4 difficulty value, it is the hardest vault in the women’s code. The Biles II is also known as the Yurchenko double pike.
The Biles on Balance Beam
Biles had a beam move named after her at the 2019 World Championships. This move, also called “The Biles,” is a dismount from the balance beam that involves two twists and two flips.