From Mikaela Shiffrin's dominance to Naomi Osaka's breakthrough, here are 11 great moments from women's sport in 2018

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/search?q=simone+biles">Simone Biles</a> became the first ever gymnast to win 13 world championship gold medals with victory in the individual vault competition in Qatar on Friday.

The 21-year-old American broke the all-time record set by Belarusian male gymnast Vitaly Scherbo in 1996, a year before Biles was born.

It was Biles' third gold medal of the week so far in Doha and she is halfway to a possible sweep of six gold medals at these championships.

This was also her 17th world championship medal overall, which means she is just three shy of the all-time record of 20, held by Russia's Svetlana Khorkina.

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The gold-medal-winning vaults from Simone Biles 🙌🏼🥇 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DohaGym2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DohaGym2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/OjbLS1meHu">pic.twitter.com/OjbLS1meHu</a>
— FloGymnastics (@FloGymnastics) <a href="https://twitter.com/FloGymnastics/status/1058385262319992833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Favourite to take gold in the event, she received a mark of 15.366, well ahead of second-placed Shallon Olsen from Canada, who finished on 14.516.

Bronze went to Mexico's Alexa Moreno, with 43-year-old Oksana Chusovitina in fourth.

Biles has another chance of a gold medal later on Friday in the uneven bars event.

Earlier, all-around gold medal winner Artur Dalaloyan won the men's floor exercise gold medal.

Simone Biles became the first ever gymnast to win 13 world championship gold medals with victory in the individual vault competition in Qatar on Friday. The 21-year-old American broke the all-time record set by Belarusian male gymnast Vitaly Scherbo in 1996, a year before Biles was born.

Simone Biles became the first ever gymnast to win 13 world championship gold medals with victory in the individual vault competition in Qatar on Friday. The 21-year-old American broke the all-time record set by Belarusian male gymnast Vitaly Scherbo in 1996, a year before Biles was born. It was Biles' third gold medal of the week so far in Doha and she is halfway to a possible sweep of six gold medals at these championships. This was also her 17th world championship medal overall, which means she is just three shy of the all-time record of 20, held by Russia's Svetlana Khorkina. The gold-medal-winning vaults from Simone Biles 🙌🏼🥇 #DohaGym2018 pic.twitter.com/OjbLS1meHu — FloGymnastics (@FloGymnastics) November 2, 2018 × Favourite to take gold in the event, she received a mark of 15.366, well ahead of second-placed Shallon Olsen from Canada, who finished on 14.516. Bronze went to Mexico's Alexa Moreno, with 43-year-old Oksana Chusovitina in fourth. Biles has another chance of a gold medal later on Friday in the uneven bars event. Earlier, all-around gold medal winner Artur Dalaloyan won the men's floor exercise gold medal.

Gymnast Simone Biles claims record 13th world gold medal

Simone Biles created history by becoming the first woman to win four all-around titles at the World Championships ahead of Japan's Mai Murakami, and US&nbsp;teammate Morgan Hurd.

Despite errors on beam and vault, Biles further cements herself as the greatest of all time. She finished with 57.491 points in Doha to add to the titles she won in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Her participation was in doubt as she was admitted to hospital with a kidney stone on the eve of the tournament.

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Historic podium! Biles 🇺🇸 makes history as first female to win 4⃣ World All-around 🥇🥇🥇🥇 Murakami 🇯🇵 record result as first JPN woman to win AA 🥈Hurd 🇺🇸wins 🥉! 
Results 👉 <a href="https://t.co/Rj8MU7CgJO">https://t.co/Rj8MU7CgJO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoGymtastic?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoGymtastic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gymnastics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gymnastics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DohaGym2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DohaGym2018</a> 🇶🇦 <a href="https://t.co/01lgJokIOc">pic.twitter.com/01lgJokIOc</a>
— FIG (@gymnastics) <a href="https://twitter.com/gymnastics/status/1058025785611767808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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2018 World Championships All-Around Final Results 
1. Simone Biles USA 57.491🥇 
2. Mai Murakami JPN 55.798 🥈 
3. Morgan Hurd USA 55.732 🥉 
4. Nina Derwael BEL 55.699 
5. Angelina Melnikova RUS 55.698 
6. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos 55.599 
7. Chen Yile CHN 54.632<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DohaGym2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DohaGym2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/GoBsYi2HyE">pic.twitter.com/GoBsYi2HyE</a>
— FloGymnastics (@FloGymnastics) <a href="https://twitter.com/FloGymnastics/status/1058011191811944450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"This one has probably been the hardest to get out of all my world championships and Olympic medals, and the scariest one," Biles said.

"It’s exciting to bring back a gold medal for the US, but for me it’s a bit disappointing because that’s not the performance I would hope to give."

The 21-year-old took more than a year off after winning four gold medals, including the all-around, at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"I think I gave everyone out there a heart attack, but it is what it is," she said of her mistakes.

"Even the best fall sometimes, but I’m excited that I pulled it out at the end. I was definitely shocked."

Simone Biles created history by becoming the first woman to win four all-around titles at the World Championships ahead of Japan's Mai Murakami, and US teammate Morgan Hurd.

Simone Biles created history by becoming the first woman to win four all-around titles at the World Championships ahead of Japan's Mai Murakami, and US teammate Morgan Hurd. Despite errors on beam and vault, Biles further cements herself as the greatest of all time. She finished with 57.491 points in Doha to add to the titles she won in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Her participation was in doubt as she was admitted to hospital with a kidney stone on the eve of the tournament. Historic podium! Biles 🇺🇸 makes history as first female to win 4⃣ World All-around 🥇🥇🥇🥇 Murakami 🇯🇵 record result as first JPN woman to win AA 🥈Hurd 🇺🇸wins 🥉! Results 👉 https://t.co/Rj8MU7CgJO #GoGymtastic #Gymnastics #DohaGym2018 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/01lgJokIOc — FIG (@gymnastics) November 1, 2018 × 2018 World Championships All-Around Final Results 1. Simone Biles USA 57.491🥇 2. Mai Murakami JPN 55.798 🥈 3. Morgan Hurd USA 55.732 🥉 4. Nina Derwael BEL 55.699 5. Angelina Melnikova RUS 55.698 6. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos 55.599 7. Chen Yile CHN 54.632#DohaGym2018 pic.twitter.com/GoBsYi2HyE — FloGymnastics (@FloGymnastics) November 1, 2018 × "This one has probably been the hardest to get out of all my world championships and Olympic medals, and the scariest one," Biles said. "It’s exciting to bring back a gold medal for the US, but for me it’s a bit disappointing because that’s not the performance I would hope to give." The 21-year-old took more than a year off after winning four gold medals, including the all-around, at the 2016 Rio Olympics. "I think I gave everyone out there a heart attack, but it is what it is," she said of her mistakes. "Even the best fall sometimes, but I’m excited that I pulled it out at the end. I was definitely shocked."

Simone Biles makes history with fourth all-around world title

US gymnast Simone Biles revealed on Monday she was sexually abused by disgraced former USA team doctor Larry Nassar, who was last month jailed for 60 years on child pornography charges.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Biles said she had wrestled with her decision to go public with her story since the scandal broke.

&quot;Most of you know me as a happy, giggly, and energetic girl,&quot; the 20-year-old reigning Olympic all-around champion wrote.&nbsp;

&quot;But lately I&#39;ve felt a bit broken and the more I try to shut off the voice in my head, the louder it screams. I am not afraid to tell my story anymore,&quot; she said.

&quot;I too am one of the many survivors that were sexually abused by Larry Nassar,&quot; the 10-time World Championship medallist added.

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Feelings... ???? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeToo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MeToo</a> <a href="https://t.co/ICiu0FCa0n">pic.twitter.com/ICiu0FCa0n</a>
&mdash; Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) <a href="https://twitter.com/Simone_Biles/status/953014513837715457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Nassar has been accused of sexually assaulting more than 100 young girls including several US Olympians.

Biles&#39;s teammates Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas are among the members of USA gymnastics squads who have said they were sexually assaulted by Nassar.

The 54-year-old was sentenced to 60 years in prison in December on child pornography charges.&nbsp;

He could be jailed for life when a further sentencing hearing gets underway in Michigan this week on separate sexual assault charges to which he has pleaded guilty.

In her statement on Twitter, Biles described her torment as she attempted to grapple with the abuse she had suffered.

&nbsp;

Larry Nassar has been accused of sexually assaulting more than 100 young girls including several US Olympians

US gymnast Simone Biles revealed on Monday she was sexually abused by disgraced former USA team doctor Larry Nassar, who was last month jailed for 60 years on child pornography charges. In a statement posted on Twitter, Biles said she had wrestled with her decision to go public with her story since the scandal broke. "Most of you know me as a happy, giggly, and energetic girl," the 20-year-old reigning Olympic all-around champion wrote. "But lately I've felt a bit broken and the more I try to shut off the voice in my head, the louder it screams. I am not afraid to tell my story anymore," she said. "I too am one of the many survivors that were sexually abused by Larry Nassar," the 10-time World Championship medallist added. Feelings... ???? #MeToo pic.twitter.com/ICiu0FCa0n — Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) January 15, 2018 × Nassar has been accused of sexually assaulting more than 100 young girls including several US Olympians. Biles's teammates Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas are among the members of USA gymnastics squads who have said they were sexually assaulted by Nassar. The 54-year-old was sentenced to 60 years in prison in December on child pornography charges. He could be jailed for life when a further sentencing hearing gets underway in Michigan this week on separate sexual assault charges to which he has pleaded guilty. In her statement on Twitter, Biles described her torment as she attempted to grapple with the abuse she had suffered.

'I was sexually abused by Larry Nassar,' says US gymnast Simone Biles

The World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed the hack of its database by a Russian group on Tuesday. 
 
WADA said in a statement that the Russian cyber espionage group Tsar Team (APT28), also known as Fancy Bear, had broken into its Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) database, AFP reported. 
 
A Russian hacker group had claimed to have accessed World Anti-Doping Agency&#39;s (WADA) confidential database and published information on four prominent US athletes earlier on Tuesday. 
 
&quot;WADA deeply regrets this situation and is very conscious of the threat that it represents to athletes whose confidential information has been divulged through this criminal act,&quot; WADA director general Olivier Niggli said in a statement.&nbsp; 
 
The group alleged that athletes like Williams sisters and Rio Olympics gold medallist Simone Biles were allowed to consume banned substances by WADA. 
 
&quot;After detailed studying of the hacked WADA databases we figured out that dozens of American athletes had tested positive,&quot; the Fancy Bears&#39; group claimed on its website. 
 
Certain illnesses or conditions may require the athlete to take particular drugs. If those drugs fall under WADA&#39;s prohibition list, a therapeutic use exemption can be given, allowing the athlete to take the needed medicine. 
 
The group alleged that WADA and International Olympic Committee &#39;s (IOC) Medical and Scientific Department were corrupt as they approved the athletes&#39; certificates for therapeutic use. 
 
&quot;As predicted, the USA dominated the 2016 Olympics medal count with 46 gold, 37 silver, 38 bronze for 121 total. The US team played well but not fair,&quot; the group said. 
 
According to the Fancy Bears&#39; group, Serena was allowed to take banned substances such as oxycodone, hydromorphone, prednisone and methylprednisolone in 2010, 2014 and 2015, Press Trust of India reported. 
 
Venus was allowed to take prednisone, prednisolone, and triamcinolone among others in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. 
 
&quot;The IOC strongly condemns such methods, which clearly aim at tarnishing the reputation of clean athletes,&quot; a spokeswoman for the IOC told AFP. &nbsp;&quot;The IOC can confirm however that the athletes mentioned did not violate any anti-doping rules during the Olympic Games Rio 2016.&quot; 
 
This is that second attack on the organisation since August. Last month, Russian whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova&#39;s file had been accessed by hackers. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

The group alleged that athletes like Williams sisters and Rio gold medallist Simone Biles were allowed to consume banned substances by WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed the hack of its database by a Russian group on Tuesday. WADA said in a statement that the Russian cyber espionage group Tsar Team (APT28), also known as Fancy Bear, had broken into its Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) database, AFP reported. A Russian hacker group had claimed to have accessed World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) confidential database and published information on four prominent US athletes earlier on Tuesday. "WADA deeply regrets this situation and is very conscious of the threat that it represents to athletes whose confidential information has been divulged through this criminal act," WADA director general Olivier Niggli said in a statement. The group alleged that athletes like Williams sisters and Rio Olympics gold medallist Simone Biles were allowed to consume banned substances by WADA. "After detailed studying of the hacked WADA databases we figured out that dozens of American athletes had tested positive," the Fancy Bears' group claimed on its website. Certain illnesses or conditions may require the athlete to take particular drugs. If those drugs fall under WADA's prohibition list, a therapeutic use exemption can be given, allowing the athlete to take the needed medicine. The group alleged that WADA and International Olympic Committee 's (IOC) Medical and Scientific Department were corrupt as they approved the athletes' certificates for therapeutic use. "As predicted, the USA dominated the 2016 Olympics medal count with 46 gold, 37 silver, 38 bronze for 121 total. The US team played well but not fair," the group said. According to the Fancy Bears' group, Serena was allowed to take banned substances such as oxycodone, hydromorphone, prednisone and methylprednisolone in 2010, 2014 and 2015, Press Trust of India reported. Venus was allowed to take prednisone, prednisolone, and triamcinolone among others in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. "The IOC strongly condemns such methods, which clearly aim at tarnishing the reputation of clean athletes," a spokeswoman for the IOC told AFP. "The IOC can confirm however that the athletes mentioned did not violate any anti-doping rules during the Olympic Games Rio 2016." This is that second attack on the organisation since August. Last month, Russian whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova's file had been accessed by hackers. (WION with inputs from AFP)

World Anti-Doping Agency confirms hack by Russian group

Gabby Douglas, a&nbsp;member of the US women&#39;s national gymnastics team, missed the MTV Video Music Awards due to an illness. 
 
Douglas and her teammates, dubbed as the &#39;Final Five&#39; by the media, were scheduled to present the award for Best Female Video. 
 
Douglas posted a photo of herself wrapped in a blanket on Instagram, explaining why she did not attend the award function. 
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJqzQLBhvlo/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Out of the hospital &amp; resting comfortably! #FinalFive so sad I can&#39;t be with u all to present tonite?? @MTV thank u? xoxo ?? #VMAs #myview</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Gabby Douglas (@gabbycvdouglas) on <time datetime="2016-08-28T22:14:45+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Aug 28, 2016 at 3:14pm PDT</time>
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&quot;Gabby is back in the hospital tonight being treated for a seriously infected past mouth injury,&quot; Douglas&#39; publicist was reported by the celebrity news website PEOPLE as saying. &quot;She continues to have deep swelling and adverse reactions to medications.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Simone Biles, the 2016 Olympic individual all-around, vault and floor gold medalist, acknowledged her teammate when presenting the award and said, &quot;Feel better, Gabby!&quot; 
 
Ali Raisman, one of Douglas&#39; teammates posted a picture of the other four members on Instagram, wishing her well. 
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJreSlrAMd0/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">We missed you @gabbycvdouglas we hope you&#39;re feeling better ??</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Alexandra Raisman (@alyraisman) on <time datetime="2016-08-29T04:30:49+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Aug 28, 2016 at 9:30pm PDT</time>
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Douglas became the first African-American to win the Olympic title in London in 2012. But in Rio she finished seventh in the eight-woman uneven bars final. 
 
Other Olympians attending the gala included US swimmer Michael Phelps who introduced the rapper Future whom he called an inspiration. 
 
Beyonce dominated the Video Music Awards with a near-record eight wins. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

Douglas and her teammates ?- dubbed as the 'Final Five' by the media - were scheduled to present the award for Best Female Video

Gabby Douglas, a member of the US women's national gymnastics team, missed the MTV Video Music Awards due to an illness. Douglas and her teammates, dubbed as the 'Final Five' by the media, were scheduled to present the award for Best Female Video. Douglas posted a photo of herself wrapped in a blanket on Instagram, explaining why she did not attend the award function. Out of the hospital & resting comfortably! #FinalFive so sad I can't be with u all to present tonite?? @MTV thank u? xoxo ?? #VMAs #myview A photo posted by Gabby Douglas (@gabbycvdouglas) on Aug 28, 2016 at 3:14pm PDT "Gabby is back in the hospital tonight being treated for a seriously infected past mouth injury," Douglas' publicist was reported by the celebrity news website PEOPLE as saying. "She continues to have deep swelling and adverse reactions to medications." Simone Biles, the 2016 Olympic individual all-around, vault and floor gold medalist, acknowledged her teammate when presenting the award and said, "Feel better, Gabby!" Ali Raisman, one of Douglas' teammates posted a picture of the other four members on Instagram, wishing her well. We missed you @gabbycvdouglas we hope you're feeling better ?? A photo posted by Alexandra Raisman (@alyraisman) on Aug 28, 2016 at 9:30pm PDT Douglas became the first African-American to win the Olympic title in London in 2012. But in Rio she finished seventh in the eight-woman uneven bars final. Other Olympians attending the gala included US swimmer Michael Phelps who introduced the rapper Future whom he called an inspiration. Beyonce dominated the Video Music Awards with a near-record eight wins. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Olympic gold medallist Gabby Douglas hospitalised, misses MTV Music Awards

Gymnast Simone Biles, winner of four gold medals in her first Olympic Games in Rio, will carry the US flag at the closing ceremony on Sunday, the US Olympic Committee said Saturday. 
 
Biles was chosen by a vote of fellow Team US members and is just the second gymnast to be named flag bearer for the US, after Alfred Jochim in the opening ceremony in 1936. 
 
Biles won team and individual gold medals in the women&#39;s all-around, vault and floor exercise, also adding a fifth medal, bronze, on the&nbsp;balance beam. 
 
Cementing her claim to the status of best gymnast of her generation, the 19-year-old became the first American gymnast to win four golds at a single Games. 
&nbsp; 
She is one of only four women to accomplish the feat in Olympic history, joining Larissa Latynina (1956), Vera Caslavska (1968) and Ekaterina Szabo (1984). 
 
(AFP)

The 19-year-old became the first American gymnast to win four golds at a single Games ?

Gymnast Simone Biles, winner of four gold medals in her first Olympic Games in Rio, will carry the US flag at the closing ceremony on Sunday, the US Olympic Committee said Saturday. Biles was chosen by a vote of fellow Team US members and is just the second gymnast to be named flag bearer for the US, after Alfred Jochim in the opening ceremony in 1936. Biles won team and individual gold medals in the women's all-around, vault and floor exercise, also adding a fifth medal, bronze, on the balance beam. Cementing her claim to the status of best gymnast of her generation, the 19-year-old became the first American gymnast to win four golds at a single Games. She is one of only four women to accomplish the feat in Olympic history, joining Larissa Latynina (1956), Vera Caslavska (1968) and Ekaterina Szabo (1984). (AFP)

Olympics 2016: Simone Biles to carry US flag at closing ceremony

Simone Biles bowed out of her fabulous Olympic debut in Rio with a record-equalling fourth gold, short of the record five she sought, but with her name in lights among the gymnastics greats. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s been a long journey, but I`ve enjoyed every moment,&quot; said the Texan whose early life struggles had not set her out as the future face of women`s gymnastics. 
 
The 19-year-old took gold on floor on Tuesday ahead of US teammate Amy Raisman, muscles flexed and with the steely determination she had shown on her way to the team, all-around and vault titles. 
 
The only blip standing between her and history, a slip on the beam on the penultimate day of competition, which gave her bronze. 
 
She is the fifth woman to win four gold at the same Games after Hungarian Agnes Keleti (1956), Soviet Larissa Latynina (1956), Czech Vera Caslavska (1968) and Romanian Ecaterina Szabo (1984). 
 
But Biles remains unfazed. 
 
&quot;To walk away from your first Olympics with five medals and four in gold, how can you be disappointed,&quot; she said. &quot;It`s exciting it`s over, but kind of sad too.&quot; 
 
Biles missed London 2012 because she was too young to compete but has dominated gymnastics in the four-year cycle since. 
 
Finishing off on the podium beside her idol Raisman, 22, was more than she could have hoped for. 
 
&quot;I remember watching her (in London) and saying &#39;I just want to be like her&#39;. Just standing next to her is amazing. It`s the cherry on top me and Aly finishing 1-2 on the floor.&quot; 
 
Her long-time coach Aimee Boorman believes the sport will never be the same after the Biles whirlwind. 
 
&quot;Right now I would say she`s the greatest gymnast,&quot; said Boorman, who has coached Biles since she was six years old. 
 
&quot;She has really raised the bar. But then four years ago nobody thought they would see a Simone Biles.&quot; 
 
Her epic Olympic adventure has seen Biles photographed alongside Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt and US swimming greats Michael 
Phelps and Katie Ledecky. 
 
But she brushes aside all comparisons. 
 
&quot;I`m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, I`m the first Simone Biles,&quot; she says. 
 
It has been a long journey for the 1.45m (4ft 9ins) gymnast who moved to Texas from her native Ohio at the age of three, adopted with her little sister Adria by her maternal grandfather Ron Biles and his wife Nellie.&nbsp; 
 
The children had been in foster care as their mother struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. 
 
For Biles it all seems normal.&nbsp; 
 
She calls her grandparents `Mom` and `Dad` and says that when she was small she thought all children were adopted. 
 
She started gymnastic lessons after a daycare field trip to a Houston gym aged six. Her raw talent and ability to do amazing flips soon caught the attention of Boorman. 
 
&quot;When I first saw her, I was like, &#39;Wow, this kid has something&#39;. But what it was and how far she could go with it, I had no idea,&quot; Boorman said. 
 
Biles&#39; talent developed from a bungling novice who could not stay on the beam and struggled with uneven bars because her hands were so small.&nbsp; 
 
Under Boorman, 43, Biles has won more world championships than any other woman in history, taking two gold at her first worlds in 2013. 
Four more gold at worlds in Nanning 2014 made her realise it was no fluke. 
 
&quot;When I was young like every kid I always said I wanted to go to the Olympics but I wasn`t really serious about it,&quot; recalls Biles.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Everything just hit me. I thought maybe I`m good! It`s unreal how it happened,&quot; she said. 
 
She is the first woman to win three straight world all-around titles and first to win ten gold medals at world championships. 
 
Everything has been geared towards her drive to become the greatest gymnast ever. Biles spent all her secondary education being homeschooled. 
 
&quot;I wanted to see how far I could go in this sport. I don`t have any regrets, because of how far I`ve come.&quot; 
 
The task now will be getting back to normal with college on the horizon. 
 
&quot;We`ll make it as normal as possible. It will be crazy. I don`t think anybody is ready for it but Aly and Gabby (Douglas).&quot; 
Boorman added: &quot;One thing is sure, she definitely won`t be back in the gym next week, except to sign autographs.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The teenage sensation has come a long way from her hardscrabble childhood to scale rare heights at these Games

Simone Biles bowed out of her fabulous Olympic debut in Rio with a record-equalling fourth gold, short of the record five she sought, but with her name in lights among the gymnastics greats. "It's been a long journey, but I`ve enjoyed every moment," said the Texan whose early life struggles had not set her out as the future face of women`s gymnastics. The 19-year-old took gold on floor on Tuesday ahead of US teammate Amy Raisman, muscles flexed and with the steely determination she had shown on her way to the team, all-around and vault titles. The only blip standing between her and history, a slip on the beam on the penultimate day of competition, which gave her bronze. She is the fifth woman to win four gold at the same Games after Hungarian Agnes Keleti (1956), Soviet Larissa Latynina (1956), Czech Vera Caslavska (1968) and Romanian Ecaterina Szabo (1984). But Biles remains unfazed. "To walk away from your first Olympics with five medals and four in gold, how can you be disappointed," she said. "It`s exciting it`s over, but kind of sad too." Biles missed London 2012 because she was too young to compete but has dominated gymnastics in the four-year cycle since. Finishing off on the podium beside her idol Raisman, 22, was more than she could have hoped for. "I remember watching her (in London) and saying 'I just want to be like her'. Just standing next to her is amazing. It`s the cherry on top me and Aly finishing 1-2 on the floor." Her long-time coach Aimee Boorman believes the sport will never be the same after the Biles whirlwind. "Right now I would say she`s the greatest gymnast," said Boorman, who has coached Biles since she was six years old. "She has really raised the bar. But then four years ago nobody thought they would see a Simone Biles." Her epic Olympic adventure has seen Biles photographed alongside Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt and US swimming greats Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky. But she brushes aside all comparisons. "I`m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, I`m the first Simone Biles," she says. It has been a long journey for the 1.45m (4ft 9ins) gymnast who moved to Texas from her native Ohio at the age of three, adopted with her little sister Adria by her maternal grandfather Ron Biles and his wife Nellie. The children had been in foster care as their mother struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. For Biles it all seems normal. She calls her grandparents `Mom` and `Dad` and says that when she was small she thought all children were adopted. She started gymnastic lessons after a daycare field trip to a Houston gym aged six. Her raw talent and ability to do amazing flips soon caught the attention of Boorman. "When I first saw her, I was like, 'Wow, this kid has something'. But what it was and how far she could go with it, I had no idea," Boorman said. Biles' talent developed from a bungling novice who could not stay on the beam and struggled with uneven bars because her hands were so small. Under Boorman, 43, Biles has won more world championships than any other woman in history, taking two gold at her first worlds in 2013. Four more gold at worlds in Nanning 2014 made her realise it was no fluke. "When I was young like every kid I always said I wanted to go to the Olympics but I wasn`t really serious about it," recalls Biles. "Everything just hit me. I thought maybe I`m good! It`s unreal how it happened," she said. She is the first woman to win three straight world all-around titles and first to win ten gold medals at world championships. Everything has been geared towards her drive to become the greatest gymnast ever. Biles spent all her secondary education being homeschooled. "I wanted to see how far I could go in this sport. I don`t have any regrets, because of how far I`ve come." The task now will be getting back to normal with college on the horizon. "We`ll make it as normal as possible. It will be crazy. I don`t think anybody is ready for it but Aly and Gabby (Douglas)." Boorman added: "One thing is sure, she definitely won`t be back in the gym next week, except to sign autographs." (AFP)

Rio Olympics 2016: Simone Biles wins fourth gold, etches her name in history

As Simone Biles stood locked in a tight embrace with her team mate Aly Raisman, waiting for her final score to come up on the big screen, the concerned look in her eyes suggested she had no idea who would be crowned Olympic all around champion.&nbsp; 
 
The American, however, was the only one still in the dark in the brightly lit Rio Olympic Arena on Thursday as the hollering cheers and standing ovation that greeted her final tumbling pass on the floor exercise confirmed what everyone knew long before the judges` verdict came up, Biles was the new champion. 
 
When a stupendous score of 15.933 confirmed she had beaten Raisman by 2.100 points with a total of 62.198, the coronation that had been in the planning stages ever since she won the first of a record three successive world titles in 2013 could finally take place. 
 
Then the woman who had remained stoic throughout the previous two hours as she showcased her jaw-dropping skills across four apparatus, finally let her guard down and burst into tears. 
 
As the realisation hit home that she finally owned the biggest individual prize in the sport, the crowd saluted a gymnast who had just become the first woman in 20 years to win the Olympic all-around title as the reigning world champion. 
 
&quot;Every emotion hit me at once so I was just kind of a train wreck,&quot; Biles said after scooping a second gold in Rio following her success in the team final on Tuesday. 
 
&quot;Everything was going through my head but mainly it was like I had finally done it and when that hits you, you can`t really stop the emotions.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
For Raisman, claiming silver with a total of 60.098 meant redemption after she suffered a gut-wrenching disappointment to miss out on the bronze four years ago to Russia`s Aliya Mustafina on the tiebreak rule.&nbsp; 
 
This time, the American was all smiles as she stood one step higher than Mustafina on the podium.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;After the tiebreak of 2012 it was very heartbreaking&nbsp;and now coming back and finally having that redemption after four years of working so hard and five times of trying in the all around final at world championships and the Olympics, it`s really special to finally be on the podium,&quot; she said. 
 
Free spirit 
But she was under no illusion which medal she had been aiming for. 
 
&quot;No one goes in thinking they can beat Simone. People don`t go in thinking they can beat Usain Bolt either. It`s kind of the same thing.&quot; 
As far as Biles was concerned, she is incomparable. 
 
&quot;I`m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, I`m the first Simone Biles.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Many reigning world champions before Biles have tried to conquer the Olympics, only to crumble under the weight of expectation -- thus becoming victims of what in gymnastics circles is known as the &quot;curse of the world champion&quot;. 
 
But rather than being crushed by the hype, Biles is such a free spirit that she simply soared higher and higher on Thursday with a dazzling floor performance that will live long in the memory of those lucky enough to be in the Rio Olympic Arena. 
 
Biles earned 15.866 on the vault, 14.966 on the asymmetric bars and 15.433 on the balance beam. 
 
On the floor, her explosive tumbling passes, which included her trademark soaring double layout with half twist at the end, had the Brazilian crowd on their feet as her sassy moves were choreographed to hip-swinging Samba beats. 
 
Biles` triumph made her the fourth successive American to win the title, ollowing the successes of Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin and Gabby Douglas, which is the longest winning streak by a country in the Olympic discipline. 
 
Biles and Raisman completed a one-two finish for the second time for the U.S. after Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson won gold and silver respectively in 2008. 
 
It was also the first time since 1992 that both the men`s and women`s all around champions were members of the gold medal team at the same Olympics.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

?Becomes the first woman in 20 years to win the Olympic all-around title as the reigning world champion

As Simone Biles stood locked in a tight embrace with her team mate Aly Raisman, waiting for her final score to come up on the big screen, the concerned look in her eyes suggested she had no idea who would be crowned Olympic all around champion. The American, however, was the only one still in the dark in the brightly lit Rio Olympic Arena on Thursday as the hollering cheers and standing ovation that greeted her final tumbling pass on the floor exercise confirmed what everyone knew long before the judges` verdict came up, Biles was the new champion. When a stupendous score of 15.933 confirmed she had beaten Raisman by 2.100 points with a total of 62.198, the coronation that had been in the planning stages ever since she won the first of a record three successive world titles in 2013 could finally take place. Then the woman who had remained stoic throughout the previous two hours as she showcased her jaw-dropping skills across four apparatus, finally let her guard down and burst into tears. As the realisation hit home that she finally owned the biggest individual prize in the sport, the crowd saluted a gymnast who had just become the first woman in 20 years to win the Olympic all-around title as the reigning world champion. "Every emotion hit me at once so I was just kind of a train wreck," Biles said after scooping a second gold in Rio following her success in the team final on Tuesday. "Everything was going through my head but mainly it was like I had finally done it and when that hits you, you can`t really stop the emotions." For Raisman, claiming silver with a total of 60.098 meant redemption after she suffered a gut-wrenching disappointment to miss out on the bronze four years ago to Russia`s Aliya Mustafina on the tiebreak rule. This time, the American was all smiles as she stood one step higher than Mustafina on the podium. "After the tiebreak of 2012 it was very heartbreaking and now coming back and finally having that redemption after four years of working so hard and five times of trying in the all around final at world championships and the Olympics, it`s really special to finally be on the podium," she said. Free spirit But she was under no illusion which medal she had been aiming for. "No one goes in thinking they can beat Simone. People don`t go in thinking they can beat Usain Bolt either. It`s kind of the same thing." As far as Biles was concerned, she is incomparable. "I`m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, I`m the first Simone Biles." Many reigning world champions before Biles have tried to conquer the Olympics, only to crumble under the weight of expectation -- thus becoming victims of what in gymnastics circles is known as the "curse of the world champion". But rather than being crushed by the hype, Biles is such a free spirit that she simply soared higher and higher on Thursday with a dazzling floor performance that will live long in the memory of those lucky enough to be in the Rio Olympic Arena. Biles earned 15.866 on the vault, 14.966 on the asymmetric bars and 15.433 on the balance beam. On the floor, her explosive tumbling passes, which included her trademark soaring double layout with half twist at the end, had the Brazilian crowd on their feet as her sassy moves were choreographed to hip-swinging Samba beats. Biles` triumph made her the fourth successive American to win the title, ollowing the successes of Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin and Gabby Douglas, which is the longest winning streak by a country in the Olympic discipline. Biles and Raisman completed a one-two finish for the second time for the U.S. after Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson won gold and silver respectively in 2008. It was also the first time since 1992 that both the men`s and women`s all around champions were members of the gold medal team at the same Olympics. (Reuters)

Rio Olympics 2016: Simone Biles wins women's gymnastics

Gymnast Simone Biles on Monday described her excitement at having made the US Olympics team after she recorded yet another crushing victory at the US Olympic women&#39;s gymnastics trials a day earlier. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s still unreal at the moment, but it&#39;s still very exciting &#39;cause I know that I am on the team but it&#39;s still sinking in,&quot; Biles told journalists in San Jose. 
 
The three-time reigning world all-around champion, who has not lost a major competition since 2013, will lead a powerhouse US squad into Rio that includes London Olympic gold medalists and Fierce Five team mates Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman, 16-year-old Lauren Hernandez and Madison Kocian, the reigning world champion on uneven bars. 
 
Already in the discussion as the greatest gymnast of all-time, Biles punched her ticket to Rio in what has become typically ruthless style outdistancing the rest of the elite 14 women field by a whopping 2.100 points. 
 
With the formality of making the US team out of the way Biles has set her sights on the games in Rio where she is expected to challenge for five gold medals. 
 
(Reuters)

Simone Biles, the three-time reigning world champion, has not lost a major competition since 2013

Gymnast Simone Biles on Monday described her excitement at having made the US Olympics team after she recorded yet another crushing victory at the US Olympic women's gymnastics trials a day earlier. "It's still unreal at the moment, but it's still very exciting 'cause I know that I am on the team but it's still sinking in," Biles told journalists in San Jose. The three-time reigning world all-around champion, who has not lost a major competition since 2013, will lead a powerhouse US squad into Rio that includes London Olympic gold medalists and Fierce Five team mates Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman, 16-year-old Lauren Hernandez and Madison Kocian, the reigning world champion on uneven bars. Already in the discussion as the greatest gymnast of all-time, Biles punched her ticket to Rio in what has become typically ruthless style outdistancing the rest of the elite 14 women field by a whopping 2.100 points. With the formality of making the US team out of the way Biles has set her sights on the games in Rio where she is expected to challenge for five gold medals. (Reuters)

Gymnast Biles wins US Olympic trials, targets Rio gold

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