The sheer height of Simone Biles’ vertical jump is indeed impressive, to say the least. Many gymnasts need to achieve incredible leaps on floor exercise in order to complete double saltos and flips, but given that Simone Biles is only 4’8″, her jumps almost defy physics. The required height she needs to achieve to perform her signature Biles II move, the most difficult element in women’s gymnastics on floor in the world, is tremendous. Yet she is able to complete the element with ease and almost too much power at times. Here’s how high Simone Biles can jump and leap in the air.
What is Simone Biles vertical jump and leap height?
Simone Biles can leap 12 feet into the air on floor exercise, according to NBC Olympics and ESPN Sportscenter. However, there are more than a few caveats to consider.
During the NBC broadcast of the US Olympic Trials for women’s gymnastics, commentator John Roethlisberger also believed that she achieved a height of 12 feet in the air on her signature Yurchenko double-pike element on vault.
That said, this 12-foot measurement is an estimation that’s rounded up, and on top of that, it is based on how high her head and feet are at the top instead of how much air she actually clears beneath her. It doesn’t deduct her total height in the calculation, so given that she’s in the tuck position on the Biles II, it’s reasonable to knock off about 4 feet and 5 inches from the 12-foot calculation.
In addition, the mat on floor exercise is a bit springy. And of course the vaulting table assists gymnasts in launching themselves into the air. Biles also goes into the the Biles II on floor with a lot of momentum and speed from multiple back handsprings, which is to say that the 12-foot calculation isn’t based on how high she can jump while standing still.
A more reasonable estimate of her jump height on the Biles II is about 5.9 feet above the floor. This is according to Bad Astra, a physicist on YouTube, who calculated this maximum height based on various physics formulas. The video also explains that Biles goes into the element at about 13 miles per hour and uses that momentum to catapult herself into the air.
Still, even with all the caveats, the power she achieves on leaps remains impressive. Judges don’t usually give her deductions for poor height on floor elements and the vault, and the amount of height she gets gives her more time to stick the landing.
