Later this month, Serena Williams will be gunning for her fifth straight major women’s tennis title, and first calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf’s 1988 sweep. Meanwhile, with somewhat less fanfare, Simone Biles is well on her way to becoming just as dominant in her chosen sport of gymnastics.
#TeamUSA's @Simone_Biles becomes the first woman in 23 Years to win THREE National Titles!
➡️ http://t.co/OKLONQ4uj1 pic.twitter.com/sTtiPVkzFH
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) August 16, 2015
On Saturday, Biles became the first woman in 23 years to three-peat as U.S. all-around champion at the 2015 P&G Championships. Olympians Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas finished well back of Biles in third and fifth place.
[fusion_title size=”4″]BALANCE BEAM: 15.900[/fusion_title]
Other than a slight glitch landing her twisting front flip, Biles’ beam performance was spot on. Her two-day total of 30.100 was tops among the senior women.
[fusion_title size=”4″]FLOOR EXERCISE: 15.850[/fusion_title]
Biles is tour de (graceful) force on the floor exercise. Combined with her Day 1 score of 14.900, Biles posted a two-day total of 30.750 — second only to Raisman’s 31.050.
[fusion_title size=”4″]VAULT: 16.300[/fusion_title]
Biles sticks her vaults like she has glue on the bottom of her feet. Her Day 2 score of 16.300 improved upon a Day 1 score of 16.250.
[fusion_title size=”4″]UNEVEN BARS: 15.150[/fusion_title]
Biles posted a uneven bars score of 15.150 on Day 1, followed by a 14.950 on Day 2. Her all-around total of 124.100 was almost 5 points better than the tally of second-place finisher Maggie Nichols.
[fusion_title size=”4″]BODY POLITIC[/fusion_title]
Both the 5’9″ Williams and 4’8″ Biles have more in common than being historically dominant in their respective sports. Both have faced disparaging comments regarding their race and superbly-muscled physiques.
In 2013, on the heels of Gabby Douglas’ Olympic gold and Biles first World Championship title, Italian gymnast Carlotta Ferlito suggested to a teammate that they would have to paint their skin black, to have a chance at winning.
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling came to Williams defense recently, after a Twitter user posted a tired-line of attack on her success.
.@diegtristan8 "she is built like a man". Yeah, my husband looks just like this in a dress. You're an idiot. pic.twitter.com/BCvT10MYkI
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 11, 2015
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