#BlackExcellence: Simone Biles’ History-Making Yurchenko Double Pike And Her Impact On Women Everywhere

Gymnast Simone Biles made history on May 22nd as the first woman to ever land a Yurchenko double pike during the U.S. Classic competition. She’s entered territory that no woman has ever stepped in, and has no plans of stopping here.

The Yurchenko double pike is a move that is considered so convoluted that, until now, it has only ever been achieved by men. As defined by the New York Times, “The Yurchenko double pike is considered so perilous and challenging that no other woman has attempted it in competition, and it is unlikely that any woman in the world is even training to give it a try. To execute it, a gymnast first must launch herself into a roundoff back handspring onto the vaulting table, and then propel herself high enough to give herself time to flip twice in a pike position (body folded, legs straight) before landing on her feet.”

After making history, Biles told CNN, “I was just thinking, ‘Do it like training. Don’t try to overdo anything. I have a tendency as soon as I raise my hand to kind of overpower things, and I did a little bit, but at least I was on my feet. It’s a new vault and I’m proud of how today went.” And when asked why she continues to execute high-risk moves, Biles simply said, “Because I can.” Admirably, she refuses to hold back, even in the face of judges who aren’t giving her the praise that she deserves. 

Ranking number one in the world as the top female gymnast, Biles’ excellence is so profound that she’s regarded as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time)––a concept that she played with on her bedazzled uniform, which featured a goat, during the competition. 

Currently, Biles is preparing for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which is scheduled for July 23rd through August 8th in Tokyo, Japan. 

Below, watch Biles achieve the groundbreaking move:

.@Simone_Biles successfully completed a Yurchenko double pike in vault at last night’s #USClassic.

She is the first woman in HISTORY to perform the move in competition. @OnHerTurf pic.twitter.com/j07ZweTA0f

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) May 23, 2021