Simone Biles, St. Paul's Sunisa Lee, Isanti's Grace McCallum go 1-2-3 at U.S. gymnastics championships all-around

The Associated Press
August 12, 2019 at 1:12PM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Simone Biles could have taken her triple-twisting double-flip (aka "the triple-double") out of her floor exercise routine Sunday during the final night of the U.S. women's gymnastics championships. She didn't need it to assure herself of another national all-around title.

Still, even as her coach, Laurent Landi, left the option up to her after the Olympic champion's bid to become the first woman to complete the triple-double in competition came up a bit short Friday, he knew the answer.

So Biles threw it at the end of her first tumbling pass. When the dizzying combination ended with her feet firmly on the floor — barely in bounds — the jolt through the packed arena was palpable.

The triple-double served as the exclamation point on her sixth national championship. Her two-day total of 118.500 was nearly five points clear of 16-year-old Sunisa Lee of St. Paul — who was first on uneven bars — in second and almost seven points ahead of third-place finisher Grace McCallum of Isanti.

Biles doesn't pay too much attention to the margin or her scores. Attempting to find the boundaries of her talent is what drives her.

Lee and 2017 world champion Morgan Hurd were the only women in the field to place ahead of Biles on any event, finishing one-two on bars, solidifying their chances of joining Biles at world championships in Germany in October.

"She does stuff that I never thought people could do," Lee said of Biles.

When Biles finished off a two-hour showcase that highlighted how wide the gulf between herself and the rest of the world has become by drilling her dismount on uneven bars, she danced.

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"It's a big deal and we all know it," USA Gymnastics high performance director Tom Forster said. "No one in the world has done it before in the women and actually, she does it better than most of the men who have done it. She should be super excited about that."

All-around winner Simone Biles, center, stands on the podium with second place finisher Sunisa Lee, left, and third place finisher Grace McCallum after the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
All-around champion Simone Biles stood between two Minnesotans on the podium after Sunday’s final — silver medalist Sunisa Lee, left, of St. Paul, and third-place finisher Grace McCallum of Isanti. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Sunisa Lee competes in the vault during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Sunisa Lee competes in the vault during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Sunisa Lee competes on the beam during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Sunisa Lee competes on the beam during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Sunisa Lee competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Sunisa Lee competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Sunisa Lee competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Sunisa Lee competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Sunisa Lee competes on the uneven bars during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Sunisa Lee competes on the uneven bars during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Sunisa Lee competes on the uneven bars during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Sunisa Lee competes on the uneven bars during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lee finished second in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Grace McCallum competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. McCallum finished third in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Grace McCallum competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. McCallum finished third in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Grace McCallum competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. McCallum finished third in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Grace McCallum competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. McCallum finished third in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Grace McCallum competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. McCallum finished third in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Grace McCallum competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. McCallum finished third in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Morgan Hurd competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. McCallum finished fourth in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Morgan Hurd competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. McCallum finished fourth in the all-around. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
All-around winner Simone Biles, center, stands on the podium with second place finisher Sunisa Lee, left, and third place finisher Grace McCallum after the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
All-around winner Simone Biles, center, stands on the podium with second place finisher Sunisa Lee, left, and third place finisher Grace McCallum after the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (The Associated Press)
Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Simone Biles competes on floor exercise during Women's Senior competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at the Sprint Center on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019 in Kansas City, Mo. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images/TNS)
Simone Biles competes on floor exercise during Women's Senior competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at the Sprint Center on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019 in Kansas City, Mo. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images/TNS) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Simone Biles competes in the beam during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Simone Biles competes in the beam during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (The Associated Press)
Simone Biles stands on the podium with other winners of the floor exercise after the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Simone Biles stands on the podium with other winners of the floor exercise after the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Simone Biles waits to be announced as the all-around winner after the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Simone Biles waits to be announced as the all-around winner after the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Simone Biles competes in the beam during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Simone Biles competes in the beam during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Simone Biles celebrates after competing in the uneven bars to win the all around senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Simone Biles celebrates after competing in the uneven bars to win the all around senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Reidel/The Associated Press)
Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Simone Biles competes in the beam during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Simone Biles competes in the beam during the senior women's competition at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (The Associated Press)
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