© John Cheng

DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 3, 2018 – Four-time World and 2016 Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles of Spring, Texas/World Champions Centre, and Morgan Hurd of Middletown, Del./First State Gymnastics, went one-two in the floor exercise final on the last day of competition at the 2018 World Gymnastics Championships at the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar. Two-time Olympian Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, California/U.S. Olympic Training Center, captured his first World medal, a bronze on the horizontal bar. U.S. fans can watch the action on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET, as well as NBC’s World coverage on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m. ET.

Biles set or matched a number of marks with her performance at the 2018 World Championships.

  • Along with the floor gold, Biles also garnered the balance beam bronze, bringing her World and Olympic medal total to 20, tied with Svetlana Khorkina for the most by a woman.
  • Biles became the first woman to medal in all four event finals since Yelena Shushunova of the USSR at the 1987 Worlds.
  • With her 2018 all-around title, she is the first woman to capture four World all-around titles.
  • In Doha, she also picked up her first vault title and uneven bars medal (silver).
  • Biles’ 14 World titles gives her the all-time record of World titles, surpassing Vitaly Scherbo of the Soviet Union, who won 12 between 1991 and 1996.
  • Her 2018 World medals are team, all-around, vault, and floor exercise gold; uneven bars silver; and balance beam bronze.

Earlier in the competition, the U.S. women won the World Team title. Along with Biles, Eaker and Hurd, the U.S. Team included Grace McCallum of Isanti, Minn./Twin City Twisters; Riley McCusker of Brielle, N.J./MG Elite; and Ragan Smith of Lewisville, Texas/Texas Dreams Gymnastics, was the alternate. Also, Hurd was the all-around bronze medalist.

In the high bar final, Mikulak was third up and nailed his routine, posting a 14.533. His score held steady and delivered the bronze. Epke Zonderland of the Netherlands easily took home the gold with his 15.100. Kohei Uchimura of Japan claimed the silver at 14.800. In the parallel bars final, Mikulak just missed the bronze medal, landing behind Russia’s Artur Dalaloyn, 15.366 to 15.233, in the ranking. China’s Zou Jingyuan was first (16.433), and Oleg Verniaiev of the Ukraine was second (15.591).

In the floor exercise final, Biles tallied 14.933. Hurd edged out Japan’s Mai Murakami, 13.933 to 13.866. The balance beam challenged both Biles, who scored a 13.600 for third, and Kara Eaker of Grain Valley, Missouri/Great American Gymnastics Express, who was sixth with a 12.833. China’s Liu Tingting won the title (14.533), and Canada’s Anne-Marie Padurariu was second (14.100).

The individual event scores for Biles, Eaker, Hurd and Mikulak are listed below.

  • Biles: balance beam, 13.600 (3); floor exercise, 14.933 (1).
  • Eaker: balance beam, 12.833 (6).
  • Hurd: floor exercise, 13.933 (2).
  • Mikulak: parallel bars,15.233 (4); horizontal bar, 14.533 (3).

For men’s vault, Ri Se Gwang of the People’s Republic of Korea took the title at 14.933. Not far behind was Artur Dalaloyan of Russia with a 14.883. Kenzo Shirai of Japan was third at 14.675.

Medalists

    Men

    • Vault: 1. Ri Se Gwang, People’s Republic of Korea, 14.933; 2. Artur Dalaloyan, Russia, 14.883;3. Kenzo Shirai, Japan, 14.675.
    • Parallel bars: 1. Zou Jingyuan, China, 16.433; 2. Oleg Verniaiev, Ukraine, 15.591; 3. Artur Dalaloyan, Russia, 15.366.
    • Horizontal bar: 1. Epke Zonderland, Netherlands, 15.100; 2. Kohei Uchimura, Japan, 14.800; 3. Sam Mikulak, USA, 14.533.

    Women

    • Balance beam: 1. Liu Tingting, China, 14.533; 2. Anne-Marie Padurariu, Canada, 14.100; 3. Simone Biles, USA, 13.600.
    • Floor exercise: 1. Simone Biles, USA, 14.933; 2. Morgan Hurd, USA, 13.933; 3. Mai Murakami, Japan, 13.866.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The organization is committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority, the safety and well-being of the athletes. USA Gymnastics has already taken specific, concrete steps to strengthen its safe sport policies and procedures. The organization’s disciplines include men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics and gymnastics for all (formerly known as group gymnastics). For more complete information, log on to usagym.org.