Legend status beckons for US gymnast Simone Biles

At just 18 years old Simone Biles has already written her name into the gymnastics history books.

The tiny American with the dazzling smile and infectious giggle stole the show in Glasgow on Thursday night with an incredible acrobatic display sealing an unprecedented third consecutive world all-around title.

Some nerves were evident as she fought to stay on the beam and stepped off the mat during her floor routine, but it was enough to seal an eighth world gold to a standing ovation by the 5,500 crowd at the Hydro Arena.

She scored highest on the vault and the floor to lead an American 1-2 ahead of Olympic all-around and team champion Gabby Douglas by more than one point.

"I'm still in shock. I feel very weird and I guess it's maybe how Kohei (Uchimura, winner of five consecutive men's world all-around titles) feels," she said.

"I feel really proud of myself."

She becomes the first woman since Russian Svetlana Khorkina to win three all-around titles and first to win three in a row after Antwerp in 2013 and Nanning in 2014.

Khorkina won her first all-around title when she was aged 18 in 1997 followed by 2001, and 2003.

Biles has never competed in an Olympics.

It has been an incredible journey since she burst into the limelight in 2013 as Douglas took a two-year break after her Olympic success.

Since then she has become the holder of 11 world medals and even has a gymnastic move named after her -- the "Biles" double layout with 1/2 turn on the floor.

Now the most medalled US gymnast, overtaking Alicia Sacramone's ten world medals, Biles has a chance to reap more in the finals of the vault, floor and beam later this week.

"Hopefully I can (win more gold). I still have three (apparatus) finals to go, and we’ll see what happens."

- Troubled history -

It has been an incredible journey for the youngster born on March 14, 1997 in Columbus, Ohio.

Biles moved to Texas at the age of three to be brought up along with her younger sister Adria by her maternal grandparents Ron and Nellie Biles.

The couple adopted the children after their mother Shanon Biles was struggling with drug addiction. Two other siblings were adopted by Ron's sister.

Biles calls her grandparents Mom and Dad and both were cheering in the stands in Glasgow as she also helped the United States defend their team title.

Aged six years, Biles first got a taste of gymnastics when she went to a training facility for children in Houston, where her flexibility and natural ability to flip caught the coach's attention.

She was homeschooled during her high school years to focus on her sport and has a gruelling training schedule of six days out of seven.

"What keeps me going is the amazing teammates, national team coordinator Martha Karolyi in the gym and the friends and family guiding me along the way. I just never get tired of it," she said.

"My motto is 'we strive for greatness and just to go out there and do it'."

She now dreams of one thing -- competing in the Rio Olympics -- where if she takes gold legend status awaits her.
Source: AFP