"Panamanian Gymnast Hillary Heron Makes History with Simone Biles' Signature Move at Paris Olympics"

Panamanian gymnast Hillary Heron made history by becoming the first gymnast, aside from Simone Biles herself, to land the challenging tumbling move named after Biles at the Paris Olympics.

On Sunday, during a qualifying session, Heron successfully executed the intricate double layout, now known as the "Biles I." This accomplishment is notable as no other gymnast, apart from Biles, has ever performed this move during the Olympic Games.

The 20-year-old Olympic debutant integrated the Biles I into her floor routine, finishing 36th overall in the gymnastics qualifier.

Meanwhile, Simone Biles, the 27-year-old "G.O.A.T." of gymnastics, made a spectacular comeback in the same qualifying session. She earned outstanding scores across all elements, ultimately securing first place. Biles and Team USA will proceed to the finals on Thursday. Although Heron won't join them in this round, the Panama City athlete expressed her optimism for future competitions in an interview with Olympics.com after the qualifiers.

"Definitely I want more Olympics. This is the start of my career. I'm just very, very motivated for what's to come next," Heron said.

Reflecting on her performance, Heron added, "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 hours 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."

Heron also praised Biles, the most decorated gymnast in the world, for revolutionizing the sport since her rise to fame at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Biles has since become a seven-time Olympic medalist, with five of her signature moves officially named after her. She aims for a sixth eponymous skill in Paris, striving to be the only active gymnast with a move named after her in all four events.

According to the International Gymnastics Federation Code of Points, gymnastics moves are named after the first athlete to perform them in an international competition, provided they meet a certain threshold of difficulty. The move Heron performed on Sunday—a double flip with a half-twist on the second flip—was the first skill named after Biles, who debuted it in 2013 at just 16 years old.

"She's an inspiration, not only for me but for many gymnasts," Heron told Olympics.com. "Being able to compete one of her skills at the World Championships and now on the Olympic stage definitely means a lot to me. It shows the impact that she has not only in gymnastics but in sports."

Heron also shared a personal moment with Biles before the qualification session.

"When I was in the warm-up, she told me she loved my leo," Heron said, referring to her leotard, which featured elements of Panama's traditional dress and national flower. This interaction, according to Heron, was "an ego boost" ahead of the competition.