Photo via: ESPN
It’s been quite a year for Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles. Upon returning to competition after taking 23 months off from competing, she made history as the first woman to ever win five national all-around titles. Then she blazed another trail by becoming the first woman to win four world all-around titles. Did we mention that she achieved this feat all while battling a kidney stone?
When you have more World gold medals than ANYONE EVER. #DohaGym2018 pic.twitter.com/qUcf3sXrDA
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) November 2, 2018
Now ESPN The Magazine has named Biles the Most Dominant Athlete of the 2018.
“Biles unleashed a historic display of athleticism at the world championships, winning her record fourth all-around title by her largest margin yet, leading the U.S. team to gold, again by a record margin, and taking four other medals,” ESPN The Magazine reporter Charlotte Gibson writes.
“That made her the first U.S. gymnast to medal at every event at a world championship — and doing all that with a kidney stone, after spending the night before qualifying in the hospital. Not that you needed more, but she also ran the table at this year’s U.S. Classic, after taking a two-year hiatus from her four-golds-and-a-bronze triumph in Rio. She is truly unstoppable.”
Biles responded to ESPN recognizing her as 2018’s most dominant athlete by saying, “Woah. I’m honored. Can’t believe it.”
As the most decorated American gymnast, we can. Congratulations, Simone!