Yurchenko double pike- the most difficult vault in women’s gymnastics, and for good reason. And in 2021, Simone Biles dared to be the first to attempt this skill in competition, although she couldn’t quite pull it off. The entire vault lasts only around six seconds, but in those fleeting moments, your fate hangs by a thread. It can either end your career or turn you into a legend which was very well documented in Simone Biles’s Netflix Rising series episode 2.

Anyone who has honed this airborne skill in sports can relate to the frightening sensation of suddenly being lost in the air experience known as the twisties. After Simone Biles withdrew from the team final in the Tokyo Olympics, she acknowledged that she was “having a little bit of the twisties.” This wasn’t her first encounter with the phenomenon; she revealed it started at the beginning of 2019, and she had also forgotten how to twist and flip. However, “Rising” season 2, shows her journey after Tokyo when she came back and how she felt.

In October 2023, in Antwerp, Belgium, Simone Biles gave the crowd exactly what it had been clamoring for. “I’ll not be broken,” she seemed to declare as she strode towards the vault in a striking blue glittery leotard. Commentators echoed the rarity of her choice: “the Yurchenko double pike,” noting, “no other woman is attempting this.” They emphasized the daunting difficulty of the maneuver, remarking, “this, I don’t know if anybody even thinks how difficult it is.” Saying at the moment, Biles confessed, “I was so nervous. it’s been two years since I’ve competed on an international stage. That arena setup just takes you back to Tokyo.”

As Simone Biles reminisces about her experience in Tokyo, recalling both her challenges with the Yurchenko double pike and her faults, she looks ahead to the present Artistic Gymnastics Championships (at that time) with a mixture of apprehension. She candidly admits her fears: “Most of the time, I’m afraid that if I miss my leg, I’ll probably land on my head. If you slip your hand, I mean, you could literally be paralyzed.” Despite these daunting thoughts, she prepares herself to show her strength, declaring, “everything happens so fast; anything could go wrong.” Finally, with focused intensity, Simone Biles races down the runway and she succeeds!!

In the fourth rotation, Simone Biles flawlessly executed the Yurchenko double-pike vault. She scored 15.266 for a total of 58.865 in the all-around competition. Biles faced a 0.5 penalty for coach Landi standing on the podium. Commentators lauded her performance as “unbelievable,” while Biles herself reflected, “Just land on your feet, salute, and you’re good. Like, it’s named after you; it’s done.” And Since then there has been no looking back! But fast-forward to today, has Simone Biles overcome the twisties?

Has Simone Biles bounced back from the twisties completely?

Simone Biles has made an unexpected and outstanding return from the twisties that troubled her during the Tokyo Games, securing a bronze medal in the balance beam. Looking ahead, as she has qualified for the Paris Olympics, she confidently declared, “I’m fine. I’m twisting again. No worries. All is good.” Her comeback journey ended in securing her third consecutive Olympic appearance at the US trials.

Critics who have been questioning her resolve after Tokyo, Biles bluntly remarked, “They’ll still say, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re going to quit again?’ And like, if I did, what are you going to do about it? Tweet me some more? I’ve already dealt with it for three years. They want to see us fail.” She expressed disappointment in those who eagerly await athletes’ downfalls, stressing the irreplaceable contributions athletes like her make to sports. Well, we all know a GOAT is a GOAT, and when it comes to mental health, taking care of yourself is as important as anything else. Biles showed that putting your health first is the key to lasting success, proving that it’s essential to look after number one no matter what else you prioritize.

As Simone Biles vaulted and tumbled her way to the top spot at the U.S. Olympic trials, her husband Jonathan Owens cheered from the sidelines. While he had a packed training schedule after signing with the Chicago Bears in March, Owens took the time to support his wife. However, the NFL safety has always made time for his family and this is one of the reasons why the gymnastics icon loves her husband.

Born on July 22nd, 1995, the 26-year-old former Green Bay Packers player grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. The youngest son of Nathan and Arthurine Cannon, Owens, showcased exceptional athletic talent from a young age. Thankfully, he grew up in a household that fostered his talents, allowing him to shine in track and field and football. So who is the NFL star’s family?

Meet Jonathan Owens’ close-knit family

Growing up in the Cannon household, Owens first started showcasing his athletic talents at Christian Brothers College High School. While Simone Biles’ husband ultimately chose to football, he also competed in track and field events. Seeing their child’s innate interest in sports, his father and mother wholeheartedly supported his endeavors. After all, Owen’s father loved sports.

A St. Louis native, Nathan Cannon grew up in his hometown loving basketball. While not much is known about his high school sporting career or profession, Owens’ father did play basketball during high school. On the other hand, while Simone Bile’s mother-in-law didn’t pursue sports, the Memphis, Tennessee native has always supported her son.

Besides supportive parents, Jonathan Owens also has an older sister. 11 older than the NFL star, Owens credits his sister Chanel Bady for helping him fall in love with football. “Happy birthday sis! Who knows where I’d be if you didn’t force me to start playing football,” Owens wrote Simone Biles’ sister-in-law’s birthday in 2018. It seems his sister saw her brother as a footballer even before he did.

Chanel Bady has regularly appeared on Jonathan Owens’ social media. However, very little information is available about the Chicago Bears’ safety’s elder sister. Bady’s Instagram page is set to private. However, she described herself as “wife, boy mom and scrub tech,” on her Instagram profile bio. Bady’s son, who is Owens’ nephew also shares a great relationship with his uncle.

Owens has often posted photographs with his nephew, and his whole family. Unfortunately, the former Arizona Cardinals player’s father didn’t see his son fulfill his NFL dreams. While Nathan Cannon supported his son with unwavering devotion, he tragically died in 2017, before Simone Biles’ husband made his NFL debut.

On August 17, 2017, with two weeks left until his final collegiate season, Owens’ world came crashing down. Nathan Cannon’s body was found in an alley. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that neither the suspect nor any motive could be determined, and declared it as an armed robbery. However, the tragedy only brought the close-knit family even closer. It’s this connection that Owens had with his family that Simone Biles appreciates to this day.

Simone Biles cherishes her mother-in-law

The most decorated gymnast in the world met Owens’ other long before they got married. Thanks to the loving relationship the NFL star shares with his mother, his mom, and then-girlfriend wasted no time getting to know one another. The Biles have are close-knit family themselves and the Olympian quickly developed a great relationship with her in-law.

In May 2022, the star gymnast even went on a vacation with her then-fiance, his mother, and her own mother. On Mother’s Day this year, Simone Biles wished for her mother and her mother-in-law. “Happy mother’s day to the best mother in law. thanks for giving me my best friend for life,” the 7x Olympic gold medalist wrote in her Instagram story. She accompanied the post with a photograph of herself with Arthurine Cannon.

Jonathan Owens grew up in a household with parents and a sibling who loved and supported him. It helped the athlete blossom and taught him to form deep connections with the people in his life. Today the NFL star cares similarly for Simone Biles and his in-laws.