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Four-time Olympic gold medalist Biles was not
happy with the 'H' difficulty value the International Gymnastics
Federation (FIG) gave the element and believes it should have
been higher.
The American made the double-double dismount - two flips and two
twists - for the first time at the U.S. championships in August.
If she repeats the historic feat at the worlds in Stuttgart, it
will bear her name in the sport's Code of Points.
The 'H' rating is one value higher than any other women's beam
element in the Code, but Biles feels the extra difficulty is
enough to merit an even higher rating.
The Two-year-old described the FIG decision with an expletive in
a tweet on Tuesday.
"There is added risk in landing of double salts for beam
dismounts (with/without twists), including a potential landing
on the neck," the FIG said in a statement on Friday.
"Reinforcing, there are many examples in the Code where
decisions have been made to protect the gymnasts and preserve
the direction of the discipline."
USA Gymnastics is unhappy with the grading given to the
dismount, and wants the FIG to do more to support Biles'
contributions to the sport.
"USA Gymnastics respectfully disagrees with the value assigned
to the balance beam dismount... that was submitted on behalf of
Simone Biles," the national body said in a statement.
"The safety of athletes is always a top priority for us and the
sport in general, however we believe skill should be given the
value that it merits.
"Simone is an amazing gymnast who continues to develop and
challenge the norm with creative and technical ability and
skill, and we applaud and support her efforts."
Biles, who has won 20 world medals, will begin her campaign at
the worlds in the qualification rounds on Saturday.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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