ONE OF A KIND

Stuttgart, OCTOBER 13

American Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnast in World Championships history today when she won the beam and floor finals to take her career tally to 25 medals.

Soon after securing a convincing victory on the beam in Stuttgart to overtake Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo's record tally of 23 Worlds medals, the 22-year-old Biles successfully defended her floor title to win medal No. 25.

The four-time Olympics champion is now the owner of 19 gold medals across four Championships against 12 for Scherbo, who competed in five Worlds events between 1991 and 1996.

Making her final appearance of the week in front of a raucous crowd, Biles wasted no time as she landed a superb triple-twisting double back flip — known as the Biles II —  on her first pass.

Biles's double layout with a half turn — another skill named after her — put her out of bounds for a 0.1 penalty but she did enough to post a winning score of 15.133.

The Americans took a one-two finish as Sunisa Lee finished with 14.133 for the silver medal, while Russian Angelina Melnikova came third.

Beam brilliance 

Earlier, Biles delivered a polished routine on the beam before a full twisting double tuck dismount for an impressive 15.066.

Although Biles had twice before won the world beam title, in 2014 and 2015, it has not always been plain sailing for her on the apparatus.

Her slip on the landing of a front tucked somersault at the 2016 Rio Olympics meant she had to settle for a bronze in the event. Last year again, she dropped off the beam during the women's all-around final at the Worlds.

But she has regained her swagger this week, under the watchful eyes of balance beam coach Cecile Landi, and posted top scores in all four attempts — qualifying, the team and all-around finals and Sunday's apparatus final.

Last year's winner Liu Tingting of China took silver with 14.433, while teammate Li Shijia won the bronze. Biles finished her campaign in Stuttgart with five gold medals from six events to mark ideal preparations for next year's Tokyo Olympics. "Honestly, I just couldn't move. I was so tired," Biles said of her final pose on the stage. — Reuters

19 Gold medals for Biles across four Championships against 12 for Vitaly Scherbo, who competed in five Worlds events between 1991 and 1996

5 A record fifth all-around gold also helped the US to a fifth straight world team title

5 Biles capped her campaign in the Stuttgart Worlds with five gold medals from six events