By Liam Morgan |
The United States led from start to finish to secure the women’s team title by a record margin at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships as Simone Biles sparkled despite two minor mistakes in Doha.
The American team, spearheaded by Biles and also including Kara Eaker, Morgan Hurd, Grace McCallum and Riley McCusker, scored a total of 171.629 across the four apparatus.
The US finished nearly nine points ahead of Russia, who took silver having amassed 162.683.
Bronze was claimed by the Chinese team after they scored 162.396 in today’s team final, which took place in front of another sparse crowd at the Aspire Dome.
The result handed the US a sixth women’s team crown and saw all three teams qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
After her superb performance in qualification, which came after a trip to the emergency room for treatment for kidney stones the previous evening, all eyes were again on Biles.
The quadruple Olympic gold medalist and multiple world champion did not disappoint but failed to reach the heights of qualification as she made small, uncharacteristic errors on the floor and the beam.
After she grabbed the beam to prevent a fall, she went out of bounds on the floor in an energetic and otherwise flawless routine.
The 21-year-old was still able to post the highest scores in entire competition on the floor, uneven bars and vault as he propelled her country to yet another team title.
Biles has another five gold medals to fight for in the Qatari capital as she will compete in the individual all-around as well as in all four apparatus finals later this week.
Should she add another three golds to her individual total, she will become the first gymnast, male or female, to win 13 world titles.
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.