Simone Biles breaks record by winning 21st medal

The United States women's team won the all-around title Tuesday at the world gymnastics championships in Germany, giving standout Simone Biles a record 21st medal.

Biles now has 15 career gold medals. With Tuesday's team win, she is no longer tied with Russian gymnast Svetlana Khorkina for the most overall medals earned by a woman at the world championships. Vitaly Scherbo holds the record for both men and women, with 23 medals.

The U.S. team defeated second-place Russia by 5.801 points, winning its seventh-straight team title at a world championships or Olympics. Biles, who had the best individual scores for the floor, balance beam, and vault, will compete on Thursday in the individual all-around final. "Every year it feels better and better just because we're adding to the legacy," she said. "I feel like I never think of records. I just go out there and do what I came to do, which is compete for the country."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up