Simone Biles claimed her 20th world title as she continued her return from a two-year break to lead the United States to a seventh straight women's team gold at the World Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp on Wednesday.
The USA extended their domination going back to 2011, in the absence of Russia, the last team to beat them in a major competition.
"She's the leader, having someone so inspiring and so encouraging... Team USA came together and we did what we needed to do tonight," said Biles' teammate Shilese Jones.And she could extend that tally as she is still in the running for five other podiums in Antwerp.Arriving in Japan as the big favorite thanks to her four gold medals won five years earlier in Rio de Janeiro, Biles broke down in full view of a global audience, withdrawing from four of the five finals.
"I'm still surprised, I'm 26, I'm a little bit older so it feels just as good as the first one just because we broke records, we came together, we had fight. It's different but it's exciting."I'm thinking a little bit more about my gymnastics. It's not so carefree. Biles, Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong and Skye Blakely resisted a comeback from the Brazilians, who won the first team medal in their history.