Olympic medalist Simone Biles is on another level — it’s hard to argue against it. Biles has brought a daring and innovative approach to gymnastics, continuously working to elevate the standard for the sport as a whole. Most recently, in late July, Biles made an official submission to the FIG Women’s Technical Committee for a new element on the uneven bars to be named after her, according to the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG). The skill comprises of a clear hip circle with 1.5 turns, or precisely 540 degrees, transitioning into a handstand. The skill is a variation of an element performed by Canadian gymnast, Wilhelm Weiler, and Biles has completed the move throughout her career. Although exact details are uncertain, there is considerable speculation that Biles will perform the new element at the start of her uneven bars routine in Paris.
After review from the FIG, the committee has deemed it a difficulty value of “E” on a scale from “A” to “J” which means, if performed successfully, Biles could be awarded 0.5 points in difficulty. Almost surprisingly enough, out of all of the gymnastics events, uneven bars is actually considered the weakest event for Biles. So what does Biles need to do to have the move officially named after her? Biles would have to perform it with her technical capacity, and without major fault, in at least one phase of her competitive time at the Olympic games in Paris.
The four-time gold medalist is no stranger to having gymnastics moves named after her, though. The decorated gymnast has five elements named after her already, consisting of two tumbling skills performed for her floor routine, two vaults (yes — including that incredible Yurchenko Double Pike which is even more impressive in slo-mo), and a dismount on balance beam. While practicing in Paris before her official competition.
There is only one Olympic gymnast to have more skills than Biles named after them: the now-retired Nellie Kim of URS, a retired Soviet and Belarusian. Kim has a total of seven skills named after her.
Biles isn’t the only athlete this year to bid for potential new skills this year. Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, and defending her gold medal from the 2021 Tokyo Games, Rebeca Andrade is slated to attempt a new vault. That said, the acclaimed athlete won’t be attempting just any vault, Andrade will potentially perform one of the hardest iterations: a whopping 1080 degree Yurchenko triple twist, per the FIG. The triple is described as a roundoff onto the springboard, followed by a back handspring onto the vault, launching into a back somersault with three twists before concluding. Also, from the Netherlands, gymnasts Naomi Visser and Lieke Wevers are touted to perform a new skill for floor exercise: a triple-turn with the leg positioned horizontally. If both gymnasts successfully perform the skill during the 2024 Games, it will be named after both Visser and Wevers.
We’ll be standing by with bated breath to see if Biles and the other gymnasts successfully complete their skills. Even if Biles doesn’t, she is an undeniably dominant force for the sport of gymnastics, pushing to exceed her limits and inspiring the next generation of athletes each time she competes. This year at the Paris Games is no exception.
Jade Esmeralda, MS, CSCS, is a Staff Writer, Health & Fitness. A life-long martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength & conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Strength and Conditioning from George Washington University.
