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Panamian gymnast Hillary Heron becomes first athlete to stick Simone Biles' signature floor exercise skill at Paris Olympics 2024
Hillary Heron has made headlines after implementing one of Simone Biles’ five elements at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Heron becomes the second athlete to showcase and implement the skills on the Olympic stage.
At the 2023 World Championships, Hillary Heron became the first athlete to follow in the footsteps of Biles on the floor exercise. Heron oozed class as she implemented a double layout half out, which was named after Biles.
At the Paris Olympics, Heron made history, becoming the first gymnast apart from Biles to implement the same skill, slowly becoming her favorite. A post shared on X regarding the exploits of Heron read:
"Hillary Heron becomes the first gymnast apart from Simone Biles 🇺🇸 to compete one of Biles's skills at the #Olympics, doing the Biles I (double layout half out) on Floor. Overcome after a brilliant day, Heron is warmly applauded as she leaves the competition podium. #Paris2024."
Speaking to the Olympics.com, Hillary Heron admitted that she draws a lot of inspiration from Biles, a four-time Olympic champion.
The Panama gymnast added that having to compete in one of Biles' skills at the World Championships and Olympics is a great sign for her. She noted that it's a favorite of hers, insisting that she has had to put in a lot of work to ensure that she masters the art.
Hillary Heron noted that before she opened her campaign at the Paris Olympics, she had a conversation with Biles who motivated her to go out and perform.
"She’s an inspiration, not only for me, for many gymnasts and being able to compete one of her skills at the World Championships and now on the Olympic stage definitely means a lot to me. When I was in the warm-up, she told me she loved my leo," Heron said.
"I think it’s the floor routine of my life, just so much work that has gone into that floor that many people wouldn’t believe, hours and hour and hours and trusting myself. I couldn’t believe I had done it, and I had done it just as I imagined it when I was four years old," she added.
Hillary Heron opens up on how she bounces back from setbacks as she chases Olympic glory in Paris
Hillary Heron disclosed the skills learned from being a gymnast and the setbacks she has faced in her career. She noted that the sport has taught her that despite setbacks, she always bounces back stronger and continues chasing her dreams.
Heron admitted that being at the Paris Olympic Games is a dream come true as she looks to make a mark.
"Gymnastics is a sport where you will fall several times, but it has taught me that after every storm there is a rainbow, so you have to carry on and keep fighting, because dreams do come true with effort, and being in Paris 2024 is a dream come true for me," Heron said.
She has been off to a faulty start in her Olympic campaign. Competing in Division 3, Heron finished 22nd with 13.033 on the floor before finishing 45th on the balance beam with 12.166 points.
She finished 53rd on the women’s uneven bars with 11.766 points and 10th on the women’s vault with 13.650 points. Overall, she finished 32nd with 50.765 points on the women’s artistic individual all-around.
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