Simone Biles turns in stunning floor finale, locks up record eighth all

May 28, 2023

SAN JOSE — Athletes performed on apparatus all around SAP Center, but all the spectators’ eyes were on iconic gymnast Simone Biles as she cooly and confidently took center stage for her floor routine to close her outing at the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships on Sunday.

Her record eighth all-around national title was essentially secured before the routine. This was the mic drop.

She executed an uptempo and technically difficult routine, brilliantly choreographed to an instrumental version of Noa Kirel’s “Unicorn,” and it was magical, more than the 11,992 roaring fans could handle. So good and free, it left Biles smiling mid-performance.

Through all the spins, flips and stunning aerials, the 26-year-old newlywed sparkled like a disco ball, thanks to all the sequins attached to her black leotard. And when she was done mesmerizing fans, they got to their feet to celebrate the sport’s GOAT, a true unicorn. Judges rewarded her with a 15.400.

“I knew I did a good floor routine but the girls had to tell me, ‘you hit every pass,’ ” Biles said. “I’m like (wow), I need to see that routine. I didn’t know. It doesn’t feel real for some reason.”

Biles posted a two-day all-around total of 118.40 for the win. She finished four points ahead of runner-up Shilese Jones (114.550). Florida University junior Leanne Wong (111.100) took third place.

Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Simone Biles competes on the floor exercise during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Simone Biles competes in the uneven bars during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Gilroy's Nola Matthews competes in the floor exercise during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

San Mateo's Myli Lew competes in the floor exercise during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Jordon Chiles competes on the vault during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Leanne Wong of University of Florida competes in the floor exercise during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

San Mateo's Myli Lew competes on the uneven bars during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Gilroy's Nola Matthews competes in the floor exercise during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Simone Biles competes on the floor exercise during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center in San Jose on Sunday. (Raul Ebio - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Biles, who also won gold on the balance beam (29.300) and bronze on the uneven bars (28.400), became the oldest woman ever to win the all-around. Her eighth all-around title moved her past Alfred Jochim, who pieced together seven crowns from 1925-33, when the Amateur Athletics Union ran the event.

Hard to believe, but Biles performed on an injured right ankle, sustained two days earlier in the preliminaries.

Even more impressive, Biles, a seven-time Olympic and 25-time world medallist, returned to competition at the Core Hydration U.S. Classic in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, on Aug. 4, two years after the “twisties” forced her to withdraw from team finals at the Tokyo Olympics.

“I seriously can’t believe I’m out here competing again,” she said. “I’m proud of myself for that.”

She made the comeback look seamless.

“It’s years of experience for her,” said Laurent Landi, her coach. “You don’t lose that. When you feel good about yourself and you feel you’re under control, then it’s where you can shine… Now she can let loose and not think. In gymnastics, if you can not think, that’s when you’re ready.”

Landi called Biles’ floor routine the best he’d ever seen from her.

“If she does this at world’s (in September), she’ll win,” he said. “It’s that simple. We just have to keep her as healthy as possible and still willing to do the sport. That’s all.”

Biles said there are positives to being a seasoned veteran. She said she’s learned to train smarter, turning in quality over quantity in an effort to stay healthy.

“Age helps,” she said. “I can’t afford to go into the gym and have all those hours, all those numbers. Less is more, sometimes.”

Dozens of fans toted signs featured adulation for the GOAT. They weren’t the only ones impressed. So was the competition.

“She’s incredible,” Wong said. “She looks like she never left. I mean, her skill level and difficulty is incredible. It’s just amazing to compete next to her and see how hard she works and everything she does to be the best.”

Sign up for email newsletters