ST. LOUIS (AP) – Simone Biles is showing no signs of slowing down.
The 19-year-old Texan cruised to her fourth straight national gymnastics title Sunday night, posting a two-day total of 125.00 to finish nearly four points ahead of three-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman and 4.5 points over rising star Laurie Hernandez. Defending Olympic champion Gabby Douglas was fourth.
Biles became the first American to win four consecutive national championships since Joan Moore Gnat from 1971-74. The U.S. women’s program was still in its infancy then. It’s the best in the world now by a large margin as it prepares to defend its Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro in August.
The five-woman Olympic team will be selected in San Jose, California, in two weeks. Biles’ place is secure, and the rest of the picture appears to be clearing with opening ceremonies in Brazil just 40 days away.
Raisman began the year struggling with her form following a disappointing – by her standards – performance at the 2015 world championships, when she failed to qualify for the all-around final after finishing behind Biles and Douglas during qualifying. Raisman vowed to regain national team coordinator Martha Karolyi’s trust, and she put together two of the best days of her career at nationals.