On 4 October 2013, Simone Biles walked into the Antwerp Sports Palace at 16 and left as world all-around champion for the first time. Her total of 60.216 points edged teammate Kyla Ross, who scored 59.332. It was only the third time the United States took both gold and silver in a women's world all-around final.
An Amanar sets the tone from the first rotation
The duel began on vault. Ross opened with a clean double-twisting Yurchenko for 15.366. Biles then flew through an Amanar — two and a half twists — for 15.850 and led after one apparatus.
Through bars and beam, the lead changed once. Biles hit her bars set with a piked Tkatchev to Pak salto and a stuck full-twisting double back for 14.700. On beam, Ross went last and was nearly flawless; her 14.533 moved her ahead before the last rotation.
One floor routine decides the title
Ross competed just before Biles on floor. She posted an elegant 14.333 with an Arabian double front. Then Biles took the floor last, with the pressure on her after a shaky U.S. Classic months earlier had raised doubts about her consistency.
She opened with a tucked double-double mount. Then came a double layout half out, a pass already named the Biles. The judges gave her 15.233, and the gold was hers.
First of six, ahead of a decorated field
The podium included 2010 world champion Aliya Mustafina of Russia, whom Biles passed. She became the seventh U.S. woman to hold the title, after Kim Zmeskal, Shannon Miller, Shawn Johnson, Jordyn Wieber, Bridget Sloan and Chellsie Memmel. "It hasn't sunken in yet that I am the World champion," she told reporters afterwards, "but I know what I have done is a huge accomplishment and I am very happy."
Ten years later, she returned to the same Antwerp arena and won a record sixth world all-around crown. That made her the most decorated gymnast in history. This first title opened the book.
