CNN
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The US ladies’s gymnastics crew has claimed a record-breaking sixth world championships gold medal in a row – even with out Simone Biles.
The crew was competing for the primary time with out the four-time Olympic gold medalist in over a decade, however blew away the competitors within the English metropolis of Liverpool with a remaining rating of 166.564.
The victory mechanically qualifies crew USA, together with fellow medalists Nice Britain (163.363 factors) and Canada (160.563 factors), for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Shilese Jones, the US’ new high all-rounder, was “speechless” following a efficiency during which the US landed 11 of 12 routines.
“That is only the start of all people’s comeback profession. Simply wait and see. I’m tremendous proud and I do know we’ll be capable of hit one thing huge in ’24,’” Jones stated after the victory,
The competitors was lacking Russia, which was banned from competing following the invasion of Ukraine, however final yr’s Olympic gold medalist would have struggled to compete with a US crew that was a lower above
With out Biles, who’s taking an prolonged break from gymnastics for her psychological well being, and Sunisa Lee, the US needed to depend on some newer faces. Neither Biles nor Lee have taken half in elite gymnastics for the reason that Tokyo Olympics.
Skye Blakely made her world championships debut and impressed. Regardless of coming off the beam and failing to finish one her routines, she recovered to attain second within the crew, solely behind Jordan Chiles.
And it was Chiles who was the star of the present, nailing all 4 routines, however wowing the gang along with her flooring routine that was set to a observe that includes songs by Lizzo and Cardi B, amongst others.
After the scores had been posted, Chiles bent over with the emotion of the consequence earlier than taking to the rostrum with delighted screams.
It got here after a pair powerful years for the 21-year-old, who had fallen off her beam in qualifying each in Tokyo and in Liverpool.
“It simply provides me the power to know that it doesn’t matter what’s thrown at me, I can do something,” she stated after the competitors.
With that sixth world championship in a row – taking the US previous Romania’s file of 5 – and with Russia probably lacking out on the Olympics, the US would be the favourite in 2024 to reclaim the gold medal.
Elsewhere, there was a shock second place end for Nice Britain. Performing in entrance of a boisterous crowd, the house crew put out its finest ever crew efficiency at a serious gymnastics occasion.
Just like the US, the host managed 11 of its 12 routines to take silver and computerized qualification for Paris, the place it should see be among the many favorites.
