Watch: Gymnast Simone Biles’s front flip first pitch was a perfect strike

Olympic gymnast Simone Biles threw out the most impressive ceremonial first pitch of the season for the Astros on Monday.

Dan Gartland | Jul 4, 2016

Watch: Gymnast Simone Biles’s front flip first pitch was a perfect strike /

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Finally, acrobatic first pitches have come to America.

Almost exactly three years ago, Korean gymnast Shin Soo-ji threw a mesmerizing twirling first pitch before a game in Seoul. On Monday, American gymnast Simone Biles did Soo-ji one better and actually left her feet with a front flip before firing the ball home.

Check out Houston's own @Simone_Biles throwing out the first pitch at the @astros game on July 4th! pic.twitter.com/NJS4H2Hipj
— KPRC 2 Houston (@KPRC2) July 4, 2016

Biles told Root Sports during the game that she did the flip “just in case my throw is embarrassing, to throw everyone off.” Luckily, the throw was pretty great.

Published Jul 4, 2016

DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).