Looks like the GOAT just got humbled—in the most hilarious way! During rehearsals for the Gold Over America Tour (aka GOAT tour), Simone Biles and her elite squad of gymnasts decided to take a break from dazzling on stage to have a little fun with the viral ‘Gymnast Grip Test.’ And what started as a friendly challenge turned into a social media sensation!
The challenge? A grip test using a Dynamometer Hand Grip Measurement Meter. Sounds fancy, right? It went viral during the Paris Olympics, with athletes like Félix Dolci, CJ Nickolas, and Kristina Teachout all giving it a shot. And let’s just say it wasn’t an easy feat—it revealed just how varied each athlete’s strength is, regardless of their sport.
The challenge was brought to the spotlight by Ian Gunther, an NCAA champion and content creator, and now our favorite gymnastics crew is getting in on the action! Ian Gunther, who’s on the Gold Over America Tour alongside Simone Biles and other gymnastics stars, introduced the “Gymnast Grip Strength Challenge 💪.” Fans were all in, loving the showdown, but the real gold came from the playful banter afterward!
In a plot twist, no one saw coming, Simone Biles, the GOAT herself, scored a surprising 60 lbs. Her reaction? “Oh, that’s so weak!” Turns out, even the greatest athletes have their moments. Enter Paul Juda, who smashed the challenge with a whopping 100 lbs, and you know he couldn’t resist having some fun with it. He teased, “40 more than the GOAT,” sending everyone into fits of laughter.
Simone later jumped into the comments to laugh it off, writing, “I’m embarrassed hahahahaahahaha,” but also gave a cheeky explanation: “To be fair, that’s more than half my body weight, soooooooo I’ll take it.” Honestly, we can’t blame her for that one!
Biles wasn’t the only one feeling the grip test heat—fellow Olympian Jade Carey joined in and posted a respectable 59 lbs, just shy of Biles’ score. But it was Joscelyn Roberson who wowed everyone with a surprising 74 lbs grip, proving she’s got some serious strength.
Among the guys, Ian Gunther showed why he’s a 4X NCAA champ with an impressive 129 lbs. But it was Brody Malone who stole the show, shocking everyone with a jaw-dropping 159 lbs grip! While the young men dominated the grip-off, Paul Juda couldn’t help but admit just how strong Simone Biles is where it counts—on the competition floor.
Paul Juda reflects on Vault challenges and what makes Simone Biles the undisputed queen of the gymnastics arena
Just a few weeks ago, Paul Juda secured his ticket to Paris and stepped into the city of love with fellow Olympians. During the US Olympic Trials for Paris 2024, Paul Juda decided not to deploy one of his most important weapons in his routine. He chose to avoid one of the toughest stunts, the Yurchenko Double Pike or Biles II, during the trials because “it really is a bit scary”. Juda played safe, as a reason he stated, “For this trials, I knew that I could score very well with a simpler vault simply because of my clean and consistent nature on the vault.”
However, that’s not just it. Paul also made sure to consider the valuable suggestion of the queen herself. Juda reflected, “I’ve talked to Simone (Biles) before. We’ve both said that it’s a bit of a scary vault. I actually had to discontinue training the vault after the World Championships to lessen harm on my elbows. It’s very, very grueling … it takes a lot of impact.”
via Reuters
In another conversation with NBC Chicago before Paris began, Paul Juda shared why he considered Simone Biles the GOAT even before her 2024 Olympic quest. Highlighting the difficulty of the Yurchenko Double Pike, Juda added, “What’s really difficult about it is that there aren’t too many men’s athletes that do it.” Then he further stated, “…there’s never been a female that’s done it until Simone, right?” Now, months after a memorable Olympic run, the gymnasts are busy with their tour and rehearsals but are undoubtedly enjoying every moment of their time together.
Such an unexpected and playful moment between two of gymnastics’ brightest stars is just one example of the strong bond that defines the Gold Over America tour. As the team continues to rehearse, it’s indeed clear that friendship and fun are what reign supreme alongside their world-class performances.
