Not many gymnasts can boast of being able to pull off the dreaded Yurchenkco Double Pike, and that’s what sets Simone Biles apart from the rest of the pack. Officially named the Biles II, this move has been a bane for gymnastics stars around the world, until the Olympic gold medalist first executed it with perfection in 2021. Understandably, her loyal fans believe this singular feat is enough for Biles to be recognized as the greatest ever, and an NCAA star is in agreement.

Michigan Wolverines’ star Paul Juda secured his spot in the national team for the Paris Olympics after a stellar display at the US Gymnastics Team Trials last week. The YDP is only one weapon in his arsenal, but the sheer difficulty of the vault move makes him understand why Biles is placed in such a revered status by her peers.

In an interview with NBC Chicago from earlier today, Juda noted why Simone is truly the greatest gymnastics star of all time beyond doubt. “What’s really difficult about it is that there aren’t too many men’s athletes that do it,” the 22-year-old stated about the YDP. Subsequently, he hailed his celebrity colleague, who he will be joining on the flight to Paris. “…when you put it into perspective, there’s never been a female that’s done it until Simone, right?” said Juda, noting just how elusive the move has remained until only recently.

While Paul did acknowledge that the move itself is incredibly challenging, he also seemed to make it clear bout his opinion of the country’s most decorated female gymnast ever. “…putting Simone already into her own kind of G.O.A.T category is one thing. But yeah, the vaults extremely difficult,” Paul was quoted in the interview.

While Juda had only good things to say about her and how Simone ushered in a new era by breaking the stigma about performing the YDP, let’s not forget that even she wasn’t able to exert her command over the difficult move with ease.

The YDP and Simone Biles: A tale of friction and woe

Executing this particular move has always been a tough one for Biles. While her attempts weren’t too shabby, having her coach stand nearby for safety measures always ended up in a point deduction for Simone. It was only at the Core Hydration Classic this year that the 27-year-old finally decided to go for the glory on her own and performed the Yurchenko Double Pike without her coach standing close by. The result? A perfect score and Simone once again walked out of the Hartford XL Center as the top-scorer of the tournament. This was the first time since 2021 that Simone attempted the move without Laurent Landi’s assistance and yet managed to score a stunning 15.600.

On the other hand, it was the same tournament last year where Juda debuted the move and went on to become a national sensation almost overnight for his flawless execution. With both of these stars on their way to the Paris Olympics, only time will tell if either of them will bring out the big gun from their sleeves in order to decimate the competition on the big stage.

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history and now she has made her third Olympic Games, meaning the famed gymnast will head to Paris in an attempt to capture gold for Team USA.

This victory places the 27-year-old in a distinguished group, marking her as one of the few American gymnasts to compete in three consecutive Olympic Games. The historical significance of her ongoing career is palpable after she went head-to-head with formidable talents like Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles.

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will begin on Friday, July 26, and run until August 11.

In the lead-up to the event, this is everything you need to know about Biles—who is widely considered the greatest gymnast of all time—before she competes.

Newsweek emailed a spokesperson for Biles for comment Friday.

Is Simone Biles Married?

Biles is married to Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens. After meeting on the celebrity dating app Raya, the couple began dating in 2020 and wed in March of 2023.

The gymnast revealed that the Bears are granting Owens a special training camp exclusion so that he can support his wife at the Olympics.

“The Bears are actually granting him a couple of days off from training camp, so he’ll be there, yes. For just a short little time,” she told USA Today’s Nancy Armour.

Owens faced backlash last year when he said he had no idea who the gymnast was when they first met. During a December episode of The Pivot Podcast, Owens said he had never paid attention to gymnastics and was unaware of who the four-time Olympic gold winner was when Biles reached out on the app.

When host Ryan Clark asked Owens if he considered himself “the catch” in their relationship, Owens responded: “I always say that the men are the catch.” He also said that he had been “afraid to commit.”

The outrage was thick and fast but both Biles and Owens appeared to laugh off the backlash. “Unbothered,” Owens wrote in a December 22 Instagram post that included a series of photos of the couple. “Just know we locked in over here.”

Where Does Simon Biles Live?

Biles and Owens live in Houston, Texas, where Biles spent her childhood.

In August, the gymnast gave fans a glimpse inside the mansion that she and her husband were building. Taking to her Instagram story, she posted a series of photos of the unfinished project.

Per the Daily Mail, Biles uploaded content that showed the wooden frame of the lakeside structure as well as a photo of a bare-bones staircase leading to the property’s second story. In additional stories, she shared photos of the unfinished bedroom, bathroom, game room, and theater.

According to AugustMan magazine, the house is worth $2 million.

What Is Simone Bile’s Net Worth?

In 2024, Simone Biles is estimated to have a net worth of $16 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.

While an impressive sum, it shouldn’t come as a huge shock, as there are various avenues through which Biles earns her income.

When competing in the Olympics, athletes aren’t paid in the traditional sense. However, the Olympic competition committee of their respective country compensates them directly. A CNBC article from 2021 states that American contestants can earn more than $37,000 for each first-place result. U.S. Olympians have also historically benefitted from perks such as tax breaks, tuition grants, and first-rate health insurance.

Over the years Biles has also had a variety of endorsements with brands such as Nike, Athleta, SK-II, Hershey’s, Uber Eats, Kellogg’s and Beats by Dre. She also has a line of leotards and gym equipment with GK Elite, which helps boost her income.

Her 7 million-strong Instagram following provides her with various opportunities for brand-sponsored content. In the past, she has posted ads for K18 Hair, Oreo, and Core Power.

When competing in the Olympics, Biles has secured four gold medals, a silver medal, and two bronze medals. Her last gold medals came during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where she captured gold medals in team, all-around, vault, and floor exercise events.

While she did not win a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, she did win a bronze for the balance beam and a silver for the team.

World number 1 Iga Swiatek is back on the grass court for the round of 32 match in the Wimbledon tennis championship. Iga Swiatek is going up against Yulia Putinsteva in this round. Iga had beaten Yulia Putinsteva in all their 4 meetings in the past.

Iga Swiatek

The current best player is out again to prove her credentials against Yulia Putinsteva, as the pair are scheduled to face each other in the round of 32.

Iga Swiatek has been on an incredible run in this tournament, winning both games in straight sets. She started her Wimbledon campaign against Sofia Kenin, and she won in straight sets. Then she went into the round of 64, and defeated Petra Martic in straight sets again. Highlights of her performance in that match were: 3 aces, 2 double faults, 36/55 first serve, 17/19 second serve, 0/0 break points saved, 10 service games won, 15 errors, 19 unforced errors, 8/35 first serve return points, 13/21 second serve return points and 2 break points converted.

Yulia Putinsteva

Next up for Yulia Putinsteva is Iga Swiatek in the round of 32. She will be hoping to record her first ever win against Iga Swiatek in her career. Yulia Putinsteva is currently ranked 35th on the WTA ranking and she is drawn to face the best tennis player Iga Swiatek.

Yulia won her opening game against Angelique Kerber in straight sets. Then she progressed into the round of 64 and there she defeated Katerina Siniakova in 3 sets. Highlights of her performance in that match were: 1 aces, 0 double faults, 45/70 first serve, 25/25 second serve, 6/7 break points saved, 11 service games won, 21 errors, 18 unforced errors, 12/35 first serve return points, 16/27 second serve return points and 5 break points converted.

Expert Betting Tips

We can all agree that Yulia Putinsteva is no match for Iga Swiatek, so this game feels a little bit of a mismatch. Iga Swiatek is miles ahead in terms of skill, experience and tenacity. She’s also beaten Yulia in all their 4 meetings in the past and that makes her extremely confident in her abilities in this meeting.

• Under 20.5 Games at 1.61 Odds
• Iga Swiatek (-5.5) Games Handicap at 1.63 Odds
• First Set Over 8.5 Games at 1.61 Odds