Simone Biles, widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, has officially retired the Yurchenko double pike, a vault move that changed gymnastics forever. On Tuesday, the four-time Olympic gold medalist posted a playful yet symbolic tribute on Instagram, staging a mock funeral for the move.
Dressed in white and standing atop a vaulting table surrounded by flowers, Biles captioned the post, “Rest in peace Yurchenko double pike,” a nod to the move that redefined the limits of athleticism in her sport.
Her post quickly drew attention, with USA Gymnastics commenting, “Gone, but literally never forgotten,” emphasizing the indelible mark the move has left on the sport.
A vault that changed the game
Biles first debuted the Yurchenko double pike in May 2021, a feat no woman had ever accomplished before. The move involves a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vaulting table, and two backflips in a piked position-a highly complex combination that few athletes would even attempt. By October 2023, the vault was renamed the “Biles II” in honor of her unprecedented achievement.
Despite a calf injury, Biles continued to perform the move at the Paris Olympics, where she added three more gold medals and one silver to her illustrious career. However, her road to success has not been without controversy. In 2019, after introducing new moves on the floor and balance beam at the World Championships, Biles expressed frustration over scoring biases. “I’m almost 99.9% sure if any other athlete were to do it besides me, they would give it the correct credit,” Biles shared in her Facebook series, Simone vs. Herself. She suggested that judges intentionally docked points because her abilities were so far ahead of her competitors.
Looking ahead
As Biles retires the Yurchenko double pike, fans are left wondering what the next chapter holds for the gymnastics icon. With the gold medal tour and potential future Olympic appearances, one thing is certain-Simone Biles is far from finished rewriting the history of her sport.
