Not even a slight stumble near the end could stop Simone Biles. Less than three months after returning to competition, the American superstar has reclaimed her position at the top of world gymnastics.

Biles had a minor misstep in her floor routine, but overall delivered a dominant performance, securing her sixth individual all-around title at the world championships. This remarkable achievement has made her the most decorated gymnast in history, just two years after she took a break from her career to prioritize her mental health following the Tokyo Olympics.

Even for someone who has now triumphed on the world championship podium 21 times, this moment brought tears during the medal ceremony in Antwerp. It was a nostalgic return to the Belgian city where Biles began her collection of titles as a 16-year-old, a decade ago.

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“You guys are actually never going to believe me, but I’ve had something in my eye for like four hours today that I could not get out,” Biles said. “So whenever I was staring at the podium, if I look up, it really hits my eye.”

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Biles then acknowledged she was moved.

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“Because 10 years ago, I won my first worlds. Now we’re back here. So it was emotional,” she said. “It means everything to me, the fight, everything that I’ve put in to get back to this place, feel comfortable and confident enough to compete.”

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Biles scored 58.399 points in the balance beam, floor, vault, and uneven bars, surpassing Rebeca Andrade, the Brazilian defending champion, by 1.633 points. Biles' teammate, Shilese Jones, won the bronze medal with 56.332 points.

This victory marked Biles' 27th world championship medal, with 21 of them being gold. It came just two days after she led the U.S. women's team to a record-breaking seventh consecutive win in the team event.

This achievement follows a two-year hiatus following her participation in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics. During the Olympics, she experienced a mental block known as "the twisties," which led her to withdraw from the individual all-around competition to prioritize her mental well-being.

Biles credits her recovery to therapy sessions and regular breathing and visualization exercises, which she has been diligently practicing.

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“I was so much more nervous for team finals because that’s when everything occurred (in Tokyo), so I was a little bit traumatized from that. So today I felt a little bit more relaxed,” she said. “So I’m happy that that’s over.”

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Biles now has 34 medals from world championships and Olympics, making her the most decorated gymnast ever at these two signature events, surpassing the retired Vitaly Scherbo, regardless of gender.

Additionally, her six all-around world titles also equal the all-time record.

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“Every day I try to think about it, especially in therapy when we talk about it,” Biles said about her record-breaking achievements. “And I think that’s when all the emotions come up. And I really think about what I’ve done and what we’ve done to the sport and push that forward. So I think it’s really exciting. But all in all, I don’t think it will hit me until I retire and then look back and see everything I’ve done.”

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Biles' only misstep occurred right at the end, as she was about to conclude her floor routine. After a nearly flawless performance, she stumbled near the end of her routine, just before executing a series of leaps. However, she quickly regained her composure and it didn't result in a significant deduction of points, ultimately not affecting her chance of winning the gold medal.

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“I know my parents had a heart attack,” Biles told her coach.

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With the Olympic Games less than a year away in Paris, Biles has returned to her peak performance. Despite tough competition from Andrade and Jones, she still stands out from the rest - an impressive accomplishment considering she began her reign a full decade ago.

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“She is like wine, she is better with age,” her coach Cecile Landi said.

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