Simone Biles isn’t just the most decorated Olympic gymnast in U.S. history—she’s the most decorated gymnast ever, period. She’s earned her title as the global queen of accolades, not just with her impressive medal haul but by redefining the sport itself. Her jaw-dropping feats have also reshaped the Code of Points. At the Paris Olympics, she conquered her fifth signature move, the Yurchenko double pike, with perfection, having only named it a year ago. Now, after her third Olympic run, Simone is ready to say goodbye to this iconic skill—but her fans are not!
On Instagram, Biles shared a serene moment as she sat gracefully seated on a vault, dressed in a white Athleta tracksuit and surrounded by a sea of white flowers. She was snapped at the World Championships Center, the very spot where she honed her skills. Her parents, Ronald and Nellie Biles own the place, which has been her training hub for years. It’s where all the magic happened, and now it’s a special place filled with memories of her incredible journey. With a gentle smile playing on her lips, she posted the heartfelt caption, “Rest in peace Yurchenko double pike,” marking her farewell to the iconic move.
Simone Biles’ comeback was already epic, but what really stole the show was her fearless take on the Yurchenko double pike—now known as The Biles II. This insane vault involves a backflip off the vault and two full rotations in a pike position before landing. This insane vault involves a backflip off the vault and two full rotations in a pike position before landing. No other woman has ever pulled it off in international competitions, and Biles owned it at last year’s World Championships.
Remember back in 2019 when Simone Biles left everyone speechless with her triple-double on the floor and that double-twisting double backflip off the beam? Both moves now proudly carry her name. But being Simone, she wasn’t done rewriting gymnastics history. In 2021, she became the first woman ever to land the Yurchenko double pike in competition, raising the bar once again. Then, in 2023, after her break to conquer the “Twisties,” she came back stronger and nailed it at the World Championships, where the vault was officially named The Biles II. The move is so powerful that even Biles takes a step back after landing it—yet she still manages to outshine the competition, rocking that 6.4 difficulty value as only she can.
At the Paris Olympics, she pulled off the YDP again, snagging her third gold of the Games. But as she continued to dominate, rumors about her retirement started swirling, especially after she hinted she might step away from her signature vault. “Getting up and not having to think about doing a Yurchenko double pike is a blessing,” she said, sending fans into a mix of emotions. Now with her latest post, some fans are thrilled she nailed the move one last time, while others felt a pang of sadness knowing they might never see her do it again.
The gymternet is not ready for Simone Biles’ farewell!
One fan stormed the comments, hailing Biles as the queen of both the vault and floor: “The vault queen… the floor queen as well.” With two Olympic medals in each event, Biles has both on lockdown, showcasing her unmatched talent. Another user dropped in with, “so you’re retiring? OMFG 😢😢😂😂 enjoy ur life Biles-Owens. you’ve done ur job,” reacting to the swirling retirement rumors after Paris. But fear not, because there is also hope of her return at the LA 2028 Olympics, as she herself said, “Never say never.”
A fan shared a heartfelt message, saying, “NOOOO!!! We’ll miss you sooo much, Simone!!! I’ve watched you for years and years! You are my idol!” It’s wild to think her journey started at just 6 years old, and by 16, she was already grabbing her first World Championships medal. Now, with 6 World All-Around titles, she’s undeniably marked an era of greatness, and fans are just not ready to say goodbye. But wait. There’s more!
Another fan jumped in with, “gone, but literally never forgotten,” a nod to Simone Biles’ enduring legacy. With 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship honors, her achievements are etched in gymnastics history forever. As one fan put it, “You really outdid yourself on this one,” highlighting just how far Simone Biles has come.
The Biles II vault is no joke—zero room for error, and if you mess it up, you’re risking a crash landing on your neck. Last year, she needed her coach, Laurent Landi, right by her side for the Yurchenko double pike, even taking some point deductions. But this year, she nailed it solo, with Landi just cheering from the sidelines.
As fans keep dropping comments like, “Lol that’s funny. Love the funeral. Did it. Done it. Goodbye. Haha” on her epic goodbye pic, we’re curious—what’s your take on the end of Simone Biles doing the Yurchenko double pike? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let’s chat about it!
