In the world of elite artistic gymnastics, having a single move named after you in the Official Code of Points is a career-defining achievement. As of 2026, Simone Biles stands as the preeminent figure in the sport’s modern era, having successfully pioneered and named five distinct elements across three different apparatus: two on the floor exercise, two on the vault, and one on the balance beam. These moves are categorized by their extreme difficulty ratings, often pushing the boundaries of human physics and landing mechanics.
To have a move named after a gymnast, the athlete must submit the skill to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and successfully perform it without a fall at a major international competition, such as the World Championships or the Olympic Games. Simone Biles has not only met these criteria five times but has done so with skills that many of her contemporaries find impossible to replicate.
The Evolution of Named Elements in Gymnastics
The tradition of naming elements allows the FIG to standardize scoring while honoring the innovators of the sport. Historically, legends like Nadia Comăneci, Nellie Kim, and Svetlana Khorkina have left their marks on the Code of Points. However, the "Biles" era represents a shift toward "power gymnastics," where rotational velocity and vertical height are maximized to perform maneuvers previously thought to be exclusive to men's gymnastics.
In the current 2025–2028 Olympic cycle, the scoring system (the Code of Points) continues to evolve to reflect these high-difficulty skills. Understanding these five moves requires a deep dive into the technical mechanics of flight, twisting, and the specific requirements of the Vault, Floor, and Beam.
1. The Biles (Floor Exercise): Double Layout with a Half Twist
The first skill named after Biles, often referred to simply as the Biles I on Floor, was successfully performed at the 2013 World Championships in Antwerp. This move is a "double layout with a half twist."
Technical Execution
In a standard double layout, a gymnast performs two full backflips in a completely straight (layout) body position. Biles added a half-twist during the second flip. This modification is significantly more difficult than it sounds because of the "blind landing."
The Challenge of the Blind Landing
When a gymnast performs a full twist or a double layout, they can usually see the floor before their feet make contact. By adding a half twist, Biles must land while facing the direction she just came from, meaning she cannot see the floor until the very last millisecond. This requires extraordinary spatial awareness (proprioception). In the 2026 scoring environment, this remains one of the most high-valued tumbling passes used to anchor a gold-medal-winning routine.
2. The Biles II (Floor Exercise): Triple-Twisting Double Back Somersault
If the Biles I was an evolution, the Biles II on Floor was a revolution. Debuted at the 2019 World Championships, this skill is a "triple-double"—two back flips with three full twists, performed in a tucked position.
Breaking Down the Physics
To complete three full rotations while flipping twice, a gymnast must generate immense "punch" off the floor. Biles reaches heights that allow her enough airtime to complete the 1,080 degrees of rotation. When she first performed it, the FIG gave it a "J" rating, which at the time was the highest difficulty value ever assigned to a women's floor element.
Impact on the Sport
The Biles II changed the strategy for Floor Exercise. To compete with Biles, other gymnasts were forced to increase their difficulty (D-score), often at the expense of their execution (E-score). Even in 2026, very few gymnasts in the world attempt the triple-double in competition because the risk of under-rotation and subsequent knee injury is exceptionally high.
3. The Biles (Vault): Yurchenko Half-On with Two Twists
The vault is an event decided in seconds, and Biles has redefined its limits twice. The Biles I on Vault is a Yurchenko-style entry (round-off onto the springboard, back handspring onto the vaulting table) with a half-turn onto the table, followed by a front layout with two full twists off.
Technical Complexity
Most gymnasts perform a "Cheng" vault, which involves a one-and-a-half twist. Biles added an extra half twist to create the double-twisting front layout. This move is technically demanding because the gymnast must transition from a backward-moving entry to a forward-moving exit with high rotational speed.
Scoring Value
Because of the difficulty in maintaining a straight body position (layout) while twisting twice, this vault carries a massive start value. It requires a combination of explosive power in the "block" (the moment hands touch the table) and core strength to prevent the body from arching or piking during the flight phase.
4. The Biles II (Vault): Yurchenko Double Pike
Commonly cited as the most difficult vault ever performed by a woman, the Biles II on Vault is the Yurchenko Double Pike. Biles officially had this move named after her at the 2023 World Championships.
Mechanics of the Double Pike
The vault begins with a standard Yurchenko entry (round-off, back handspring), but instead of a single flip with twists, Biles launches into two full backflips in a pike position (body folded at the waist, legs straight).
Safety and Precaution
The sheer force of the landing is comparable to jumping off a two-story building. To land this successfully, Biles must generate enough height to allow her body to complete two rotations and then "kick out" of the pike to find the floor. In 2026, it remains the "gold standard" of vaulting, and it is rarely performed by anyone else due to the extreme risk of over-rotation or landing short, both of which can lead to catastrophic lower-body injuries.
5. The Biles (Balance Beam): Double-Twisting Double Back Dismount
The fifth move is her signature dismount from the balance beam. Successfully landed at the 2019 World Championships, the Biles on Beam is a double-twisting double-tucked back somersault.
The Narrow Margin of Error
The balance beam is only four inches wide. Performing a double-double (two flips, two twists) as a dismount requires the gymnast to maintain perfect centering during the "set" or takeoff. If the gymnast is even slightly off-center when they punch off the end of the beam, the rotational torque will carry them sideways, leading to a dangerous landing off the mats.
Controversy in Rating
When this move was first introduced, the FIG initially gave it an "H" rating, which many experts felt was too low given the risk involved. The federation argued that they didn't want to encourage gymnasts to take "unnecessary risks" on the beam. However, its status as the "Biles" cemented it as one of the most iconic finishes to a beam routine in history.
Comparative Difficulty of the Biles Elements
The following table outlines the five moves, their apparatus, and their approximate difficulty ratings based on the 2025-2028 Code of Points standards.
| Skill Name | Apparatus | Technical Description | Difficulty Value (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biles I (Floor) | Floor Exercise | Double layout with 1/2 twist | G (0.7) |
| Biles II (Floor) | Floor Exercise | Triple-twisting double tuck | J (1.0) |
| Biles I (Vault) | Vault | Yurchenko 1/2 on, 2/1 twist off | 6.0 (D-Score) |
| Biles II (Vault) | Vault | Yurchenko double pike | 6.4 (D-Score) |
| Biles (Beam) | Balance Beam | Double-double tuck dismount | H (0.8) |
Prerequisites for Naming a Skill
For a gymnast to have a skill named after them in 2026, several stringent criteria must be met. It is not enough to simply film the move in a gym or perform it at a local meet.
- Submission: The national federation must submit a video of the skill and a written description to the FIG Technical Committee before the start of a major sanctioned event (Olympics or Worlds).
- Evaluation: The Technical Committee reviews the skill to determine its difficulty value and ensure it is not "prohibitively dangerous" for the general field.
- Performance: The gymnast must perform the skill during the competition (qualifications or finals).
- Successful Completion: The gymnast must land the skill on their feet. If they fall, the skill is not named, even if they completed the rotations in the air.
The Significance of Having Five Named Moves
Most Olympic gymnasts dream of having just one skill carry their name. To have five across three different apparatus is a testament to Biles’ versatility. Traditionally, gymnasts are specialists—some are "power" athletes (vault and floor) while others are "artistic" or "technical" athletes (beam and bars). Biles bridged this gap by applying her explosive power to the technical rigors of the balance beam.
By 2026, these five moves have become the benchmarks for the next generation of gymnasts. They represent the "ceiling" of the sport. While some younger athletes have begun training the "Biles I" on floor, the "Biles II" on vault remains almost entirely unique to her, illustrating the massive gap she created between herself and the rest of the world.
Common Mistakes and Challenges in These Moves
Even for elite athletes, these five moves present significant hurdles. Here are the most common technical failures seen when others attempt "Biles" elements:
- Chest Position on Landing: In the Biles II on Floor (triple-double), gymnasts often land with their chest too low. This results in heavy "deductions" from judges and puts immense strain on the Achilles tendons.
- Directional Control on Vault: On the Biles I (Vault), the half-turn entry is notoriously difficult to keep straight. Gymnasts often "veer" to one side of the table, which can result in landing partially off the competition mat.
- Twist Integration: In the Biles on Beam, the two twists must be integrated into the two flips smoothly. If a gymnast starts twisting too late, they will not finish the second twist before hitting the ground, leading to a "crash" landing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone else perform the Biles moves?
Yes, other gymnasts are permitted to perform these moves. However, they are so difficult that only a handful of athletes in history have ever attempted them in international competition. For example, a few gymnasts have successfully performed the Biles I on floor, but the Biles II on vault remains extremely rare.
Why doesn't Simone Biles have a move on the Uneven Bars?
The Uneven Bars is the only apparatus where Biles does not have a namesake move. Bars require a different type of "swing" momentum rather than the "explosive" leg power Biles is known for. While she is an elite bars worker, she has not yet innovated a completely new element on that specific apparatus.
What happens if two gymnasts perform a new move at the same competition?
If two gymnasts successfully perform an unnamed skill at the same World Championships or Olympics, the skill is named after both of them (e.g., the "Biles-Whiteside" or similar). This has happened several times in gymnastics history, but Biles successfully performed all five of her moves as the sole innovator in those specific instances.
Are these moves still the hardest in 2026?
As of 2026, the Biles II on Vault and the Biles II on Floor remain the highest-valued skills in the Women's Code of Points. While new skills are submitted every year, the sheer physics required for the triple-double and the double pike vault have yet to be surpassed by any other female gymnast.
The Future of the "Biles" Legacy
As we look toward the future of gymnastics, the "Biles" moves serve as a permanent record of an era where the limits of the human body were recalculated. For coaches and athletes in 2026, these five moves are not just highlights in a video reel; they are the blueprint for the future of the sport. Aspiring gymnasts now utilize advanced foam pits, video analysis, and specialized strength conditioning specifically designed to one day tackle the rotations Biles pioneered.
Whether or not another gymnast eventually names a sixth or seventh move, the "Biles five" will remain the definitive collection of high-difficulty gymnastics, marking Simone Biles as perhaps the greatest innovator the sport has ever seen.
