Olympics

Simone Biles relies on faith as she continues setting gymnastics world records

By Jon Ackerman Nov 5, 2018
Simone Biles (Photo courtesy of Twitter/@USAGym)

Simone Biles is back in gymnastics, and back as the best in the world. The 21-year-old gymnast, who won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics before taking 14 months off, captured six medals at the 2018 World Gymnastics Championships in Doha, Qatar, last week.

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It marks the first time an American has won medals in every event at worlds, and she’s the first gymnast in general to accomplish the feat at worlds in 31 years. On Saturday, she claimed gold on floor exercise and a bronze on balance beam, to go with golds for the vault, all-around and team competitions, and a silver for uneven bars. The all-around world title is her fourth, also a record.

The haul gives Biles 20 career medals at the world championships, matching the mark set by Russia’s Svetlana Khokrina. However, Biles owns 14 gold medals to Khokrina’s nine, making the American the most decorated female gymnast in world championships history.

Biles’ latest six medals also came while carrying a kidney stone, as she opted to wait until after the competition to have it removed.

Biles, who was named Sports Spectrum’s 2016 Female Athlete of the Year, relies on her faith as she competes and lives life as a role model to kids.

“Kids today talk about faith, and I think it’s OK for me to share my faith so kids can see how it helps you through the whole process,” Biles told the Houston Chronicle in 2016.

Biles is vocal about her faith in God on social media, and she frequently credits her faith for her success in her book, “Courage to Soar,” which was published in 2016 by Zondervan, one of the world’s leading Christian publishers.

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