Simone Biles is really at the top of her game (and the world!) right now. Still, I can't help but wonder how long her domination can last and if she can endure a year and a half more until the Olympics. In other words, is it possibly or likely that she could win the most prestigious title in WAG?
Simone has won the last two of US National Championships, Nastia Liukin did the same thing in 2005 and 2006 (and at the same point in the Quad). And despite losing to Shawn Johnson at the next two Nationals, she won the all around in Beijing. However, Nastia never won a world title, let alone one early on in the Quad.
Carly Patterson's career was relatively short lived and she only competed in one senior nationals before winning the all around in Athens. Same goes for Gabby Douglas who never even won a nationals but went on to nab the gold in London.
Going back even further, to Sydney, Andreea Raducan (the rightful AA winner) hadn't won a world all around medal before winning in Australia.
Now, to look at the women who, like Simone, did win world championships early in the Quad. Shannon Miller won at the same two time slots as Simone (1993 & 1994 vs. 2013 & 2014). Shannon went on to compete in Atlanta and only came in 8th place in the AA. Svetlana Khorkina won World AA in 1997, 2001 and 2003 but could never grasp an Olympic AA gold.
Chellsie Memmel won World AA gold in 2005 but injuries kept her from doing much at all in the 2008 Olympics. Bridget Sloan won Worlds in 2009 but never made her second Olympics in 2012.
Pretty much, what I'm trying to sum up is the fact that in the past 20+ years, no one who won Worlds this early in the quad has ever gone on to win the Olympic AA title. It's all about timing really, because if the Olympics were last year or today, Simone would win them without question. She is an amazing athlete and it would be a shame if she didn't get to showcase that at the biggest meet a gymnast can go to. However, if anyone can stand stand that test of time, I think she can.
