Simone Biles vault: Yurchenko double pike is latest gymnastics skill named after USA star

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Simone Biles
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Simone Biles made history during qualifications at the World Gymnastics Championships by landing a Yurchenko double pike on vault.

Because she is the first woman to do so in international competition, the skill is now named the "Biles II." It's the fifth skill named after her and the second on vault.

That may seem like a lot of skills, but it's not the most in women's gymnastics history. Nellie Kim, who competed for the Soviet Union at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics, has seven elements named for her in the code of points.

To get a skill named after a gymnast, they must submit the skill to the International Gymnastics Federation prior to competition at an international event, such as the Olympics or World Championships. The gymnast must be the first to successfully compete the skill without major error. Should the gymnast do so, the code of points will rename the element by the gymnast's last name.

MORE: How to watch Simone Biles live at 2023 World Gymnastics Championships

Here's what to know about the Biles II vault and the other skills named after the USA star:

Simone Biles vault

Biles is the only American gymnast to have a vault skill named for her.

Here's a look at the newly christened Biles II from the World Championships, which she originally planned for the 2021 Olympics but never competed: 

Gymnastics skills named after Simone Biles

Before the Biles II vault, Biles had four other skills named after her: one each on vault and beam and two on the floor.  

Vault

Biles – Yurchenko half on with double-twisting layout. Debuted at 2018 World Championships.

Beam

Biles – Double-twisting double-tucked backflip. Debuted at 2019 World Championship.

Floor

Biles – Double layout half out. Debuted at 2013 World Championship.

Biles II – Triple-twisting double-tucked backflip. Debuted at 2019 World Championship.

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Emily Dozier Photo

Emily Dozier is an editorial intern at The Sporting News