Sports

Biles leads US women's gymnastics team to 7th consecutive world title

Even with a last-minute injury affecting one of their gymnasts, the American team clinched victory by a 2.199-point margin.

United States' Simone Biles competes on the beam during the women's team final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships
Virginia Mayo / AP
SMS

Under the leadership of Simone Biles, the U.S. team secured their seventh consecutive gold medal at the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Even with a last-minute injury affecting one of their gymnasts, the American team, which included Biles, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely, and Leanne Wong, amassed a total of 167.729 points to narrowly outperform Brazil and France. The U.S. clinched victory by a 2.199-point margin, according to the Associated Press.

Since 2011, the U.S. women have consistently claimed gold in the team event at every world championship featuring a team competition, the AP states. 

Their triumph in Antwerp not only surpassed the Chinese men but also solidified Biles' status as the most decorated female gymnast in history. The 26-year-old now has 26 world championship medals (20 of them gold) and seven Olympic medals.

In 2013, the 4'9" Biles became the first African American woman to win the all-around title at the world gymnastics championships, and in 2016 she was the first U.S. woman to win four Olympic golds and the first to claim three straight world all-around titles.