The opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics are tonight, kicking off two weeks of glorious feats that may or may not be overshadowed by poopy water and Zika fears. One athlete you’ll undoubtedly be hearing a lot about—if you aren’t already acquainted with her—is gymnast Simone Biles. Biles is nothing short of a phenomenon, and is expected to completely annihilate her competition. She’s won three straight all-around titles at the world championships, and has been deemed “the best athlete in America today.” Gold-medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton said Biles is “the best [she’s] ever seen.” So, yeah, she’s fucking amazing.
But what is it about her skill set that makes her so good? Well, The New York Times is here to explain, in an interactive feature that breaks down her talents, including her tumbling pass called “The Biles.” (Of course it’s named after her.) “The Biles” is a “double layout with a half-twist and blind landing.” Biles’ strong run at the outset of this move allows her to accomplish more that other gymnasts, and she also gets incredible air. The Times notes that “at the peak of this pass, she’ll clear nearly twice her own height.”
The Biles piece is part of a series, in which the Times dives into other Olympians’ abilities. Check out the one on Ryan Lochte, which has nothing to do with that time he played a sex idiot on 30 Rock.
