2 Nov 2018

American gymnast creates history

9:29 am on 2 November 2018

The American gymnast Simone Biles has made history by becoming the first woman to win four all-around titles at the World Championships.

Biles had not competed internationally since the 2016 Olympics, while she revealed in January she had been sexually abused by a former Team USA sports doctor.

In addition, the 21-year-old American was admitted to hospital with a kidney stone on the eve of the event in Doha.

"This is definitely the scariest one from the ones from the past," she said.

US gymnast Simone Biles celebrates on the podium of the women's floor event final of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016.

Biles won four gold medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Photo: AFP

Biles had previously shared the record of three all-around world golds with Svetlana Khorkina of Russia.

"This year has definitely had its ups and downs, going to therapy and other things besides. Just being in the gym has been a little bit rough, but you try to focus on one thing at a time to get through it," she said.

"I hope this gives confidence [to other women] that you can still do well and not be penalised for it and for parents to put gymnasts in the sport and feel comfortable."

-BBC