POPSUGAR UK

Even in Slow Motion, Simone Biles's Triple-Double Seems to Defy the Laws of Physics

21/07/2021 - 02:37 AM
@nbcolympics [1]

My heavens, Simone Biles. #gymnastics [2] #gymtrials21 [3] #tokyoolympics [4] #fyp [5]

♬ original sound - NBC Olympics & Paralympics [6]

Simone Biles could post a video of herself opening the mail, and I would be captivated. This legendary American gymnast has seven national championships [7], five Olympic medals, and several signature moves [8] that bear her name — and she's poised to make history yet again [9] at the Tokyo Olympics. But if at times you find Biles's power and speed to be a bit dizzying, you'll want to feast your eyes on this slow-motion video from NBC Olympics [10] (and then promptly pick your jaw up off the floor).

The video shows Biles performing her triple-double on floor at the US Olympic Trials. A triple-double is when a gymnast completes two backflips [11] — in this case, in a tucked position — while twisting three times in the air. It sounds simple enough in theory, but it's extremely difficult to do. Biles is the first and only woman gymnast so far [12] to land a triple-double on floor.

It's cool seeing Biles perform this skill on TV, but because she's only in the air for about 1.18 seconds [13], it can be hard for your eyes to keep up. She just looks like a wonderful blur before she sticks the landing. That's why this video is so mesmerising — you can see every tuck, flip, and twist, and for just a moment, it feels a bit like she's suspended in midair.

We already know Biles is the GOAT [14], and this fantastic slow-motion video just reinforces that. I'll be watching it on repeat until I can see Biles compete in the Olympic Games this month.


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/watch-simone-biles-triple-double-in-slow-motion-48427366