Not many gymnasts can boast of being able to pull off the dreaded Yurchenkco Double Pike, and that’s what sets Simone Biles apart from the rest of the pack. Officially named the Biles II, this move has been a bane for gymnastics stars around the world, until the Olympic gold medalist first executed it with perfection in 2021. Understandably, her loyal fans believe this singular feat is enough for Biles to be recognized as the greatest ever, and an NCAA star is in agreement.
Michigan Wolverines’ star Paul Juda secured his spot in the national team for the Paris Olympics after a stellar display at the US Gymnastics Team Trials last week. The YDP is only one weapon in his arsenal, but the sheer difficulty of the vault move makes him understand why Biles is placed in such a revered status by her peers.
In an interview with NBC Chicago from earlier today, Juda noted why Simone is truly the greatest gymnastics star of all time beyond doubt. “What’s really difficult about it is that there aren’t too many men’s athletes that do it,” the 22-year-old stated about the YDP. Subsequently, he hailed his celebrity colleague, who he will be joining on the flight to Paris. “…when you put it into perspective, there’s never been a female that’s done it until Simone, right?” said Juda, noting just how elusive the move has remained until only recently.
While Paul did acknowledge that the move itself is incredibly challenging, he also seemed to make it clear bout his opinion of the country’s most decorated female gymnast ever. “…putting Simone already into her own kind of G.O.A.T category is one thing. But yeah, the vaults extremely difficult,” Paul was quoted in the interview.
While Juda had only good things to say about her and how Simone ushered in a new era by breaking the stigma about performing the YDP, let’s not forget that even she wasn’t able to exert her command over the difficult move with ease.
The YDP and Simone Biles: A tale of friction and woe
Executing this particular move has always been a tough one for Biles. While her attempts weren’t too shabby, having her coach stand nearby for safety measures always ended up in a point deduction for Simone. It was only at the Core Hydration Classic this year that the 27-year-old finally decided to go for the glory on her own and performed the Yurchenko Double Pike without her coach standing close by. The result? A perfect score and Simone once again walked out of the Hartford XL Center as the top-scorer of the tournament. This was the first time since 2021 that Simone attempted the move without Laurent Landi’s assistance and yet managed to score a stunning 15.600.
On the other hand, it was the same tournament last year where Juda debuted the move and went on to become a national sensation almost overnight for his flawless execution. With both of these stars on their way to the Paris Olympics, only time will tell if either of them will bring out the big gun from their sleeves in order to decimate the competition on the big stage.
