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Simone Biles, U.S. women set gymnastics records at world championships

AP photo by Virginia Mayo / U.S. gymnast Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the women's team final at the world championships Wednesday in Antwerp, Belgium.
AP photo by Virginia Mayo / U.S. gymnast Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the women's team final at the world championships Wednesday in Antwerp, Belgium. AP photo by Virginia Mayo / U.S. gymnast Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the women's team final at the world championships Wednesday in Antwerp, Belgium.

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN / The Associated Press 4 min read

ANTWERP, Belgium — Simone Biles and her teammates were far from perfect, and yet nothing could stand in the way of a victory that set a record for both the U.S. women’s team and the greatest gymnast in history.

The U.S. women earned a record seventh consecutive team title at the gymnastics world championship meet Wednesday night. For Biles, it was also her 33rd major championship medal — across the worlds and Olympics — to make her the most decorated female gymnast ever.

And it’s fitting that it happened in Antwerp, the Belgian port city where Biles came to international prominence 10 years ago by winning her first world title in 2013.

“It wasn’t Team USA’s best day,” Biles said. “It’s crazy: We still pulled it out, so I’m really, really proud of the team.”

The American team of Biles, Skye Blakely, Shilese Jones, Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong combined for a total of 167.729 points to edge second-place Brazil and France.