Best Upset of 2014 - Simone's Second Silver at the World Championships Vault Final



As the year draws to a close, we are taking a look back at the best of 2014. The final few days of this year will be filled with the best routines, moments, and more from this year for you to enjoy. Coming in at the top spot for best upset of the year is Hong Un Jong upsetting Simone Biles in the vault event finals at the 2014 World Championships.
 

After helping Team USA win gold, all eyes were on Simone Biles, who in 2013, was the first gymnast since Aliya Mustafina in 2010 to qualify not only for the individual all-around final, but all four event finals, as well. Biles took silver in 2013 behind U.S. teammate McKayla Maroney, but with the 2012 silver medalist and defending World Vault Champ out with a knee injury, the vault title seemed to be Biles for the taking.
 

But, 2008 Olympic Champion and 2013 World bronze medalist, Hong Un Jong of the People’s Republic of Korea, wasn’t going down without a fight. Although she didn’t attempt the triple-twisting Yurchenko she had submitted for evaluation, Hong performed the highest-valued pair of vaults in the event final with an Amanar and a Cheng. Her first vault, the Amanar, had great height but a large step forward, giving her a score of 15.766. Her second vault was executed well but Hong had to fight hard to stay within the lines and scored a 15.433, giving her an average of 15.599  sliding her into first place.


 

Simone Biles, who was up seventh in the line-up, performed her amazing Amanar as her first vault, and even with a small hop forward, was still able to score a 15.9. Her second vault was a nearly flawless Yurchenko half on layout half off, with a near stick, but because of the lack of difficulty, Biles only scored a 15.208. Her averaged scores of 15.554 were enough to secure her the silver medal, for the second year in a row.

There you have it! The upset of the year is Hong Un Jong beating out Simone Biles by just 0.045 for the gold medal at the 2014 World Championships Vault Final.

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#3 Best Upset

Best of 2014 Master List