Winner Simone Biles of the US reacts as a bee (top right) buzzes past during the awards ceremony of the women’s all-around final at the gymnastics world championships in Nanning. — AFP photo
NANNING, China: American teenager Simone Biles has vaulted into the gymnastics hall of fame by lifting back-to-back women’s all-around world titles, but she doesn’t relish the thought of trying to match Japanese superstar Kohei Uchimura’s five straight wins.
“I think he’s crazy and I have no idea, but I don’t think so because he’s a legend,” the 17-year-old said of the possibility after repeating her all-around success on Friday at the World Gymnastics Championships in Nanning, China.
Biles became the sixth woman to win two consecutive all-around titles and the first to do so since Russia’s Svetlana Khorkina in 2003.
She is also the second American to achieve the feat after Shannon Miller blazed the trail in 1994.
Reigning Olympic champion Uchimura has been labelled a “machine” by his rivals because of his strength, consistency and artistry. His own coach Hiroyuki Kato has described him as “not a human being”.
The short but muscular 25-year-old, known as “King Kohei”, has remained unbeaten in the men’s all-around since he finished runner-up to China’s now-retired Yang Wei at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
No other gymnast, male or female, has won four or more all-around titles.
Uchimura is also the only gymnast to win three or more in a row.
Biles, the two-time reigning US national champion, topped the table on vault and floor to win the four-apparatus world final with 60.231 points. Romanian Larisa Iordache finished second, 0.466 points behind, while Kyla Ross of the US was third.
Iordache, fourth last year, was upbeat after lifting her first silver medal at world level.
“Everything is possible at any one competition,” the 18-year-old said when asked about her chances of beating Biles. “Today I did not get gold but next time there is always a chance.”
Biles took Iordache’s comment lightly, emphasising comradeship rather than rivalry among the top women gymnasts.
Asked if she saw the Romanian as her main rival in the run-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, she said: “No, not at all because we are really good friends, so I can cheer for her out there.” — AFP