Olympic medalist Simone Biles is on another level, and it’s hard to argue with that. Biles brings a bold and innovative approach to gymnastics and is constantly working to raise the bar across the sport. As recently as late July, Biles formally proposed to the FIG Women’s Technical Committee that a new element on uneven bars be named after her, according to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). The move involves one and a half hip circles, or 540 degrees to be exact, before transitioning into a handstand. The move is a variation of an element performed by Canadian gymnast Wilhelm Weiler, and Biles has perfected the move throughout her career. While exact details are scarce, there is widespread speculation that Biles will debut the new element at the start of her uneven bars routine in Paris.
After FIG’s review, the committee rated the move as “E” on a scale of “A” to “J,” meaning that if it’s performed well, Biles will lose half a point on the difficulty level. Surprisingly, the uneven bars are Biles’ least favorite event in gymnastics. So what does Biles need to do to officially have the move named after her? Biles needs to perform the move technically and without major mistakes at least once during the Paris Olympics.
But the four-time gold medalist is no stranger to having gymnastics titles named after her, and the illustrious gymnast already has five skills named after her: two tumbling moves on the floor, two vaults (yes, that includes that epic Yurchenko double pike, which looks even more impressive in slow-motion), and a balance beam landing, all while practicing in Paris ahead of the official competition.
The only other Olympic gymnast with more named moves than Biles is now-retired Soviet-Belarusian Nellie Kim (URS), who has a total of seven named moves.
Biles is not the only gymnast with a potential new move this year. Rebecca Andrade, from São Paulo, Brazil, who will defend her gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, will also be trying a new vault. However, this famous athlete will not just do a vault. According to the FIG, Andrade may perform one of the most difficult events, a triple Yurchenko twist with an incredible 1080 degrees. This triple rotation is performed by rotating on the vault, followed by a backward handspring on the vault and finishing with a back somersault and three rotations. Also, in the Netherlands, gymnasts Naomi Visser and Lieke Wevers are rumored to perform a new move on the floor exercise: a triple horizontal foot rotation. If both gymnasts land the move at the 2024 Olympics, the move will be named after both Visser and Wevers.
We’ll all be watching with bated breath to see if Biles and the others land their moves, but even if she doesn’t, she remains an undeniable force in the world of gymnastics, pushing herself beyond her limits and inspiring the next generation of gymnasts every time she competes, and this year’s Paris Games will be no exception.
Jade Esmeralda, MS, CSCS, is a Health & Fitness staff writer. A lifelong martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength and conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She earned her Master of Science in Exercise Science and Strength and Conditioning from The George Washington University.