Simone Biles called Paris a “redemption tour” for the Tokyo returners. The 27 year old American phenomenon likes to keep her words.
Three years after the Americans settled for a silver medal as favourites at the Tokyo Olympics – when Biles withdrew from the team final after suffering from ‘the twisties’ – the Americans restored their place atop the sport’s world order with a comprehensive performance across all four disciplines, winning team gold for the third time in the last four Summer Games. Atlanta 1996, London 2012, Rio 2016 and now Paris 2024, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team is golden once again.
EXPECTATION
Of course all eyes were on Simone inside the Bercy Arena and she knew exactly what millions of people around the world were expecting from her:
“I felt like we had a lot of weight on our shoulders to go out there and prove that we’re better athletes.”
They are indeed. Team Italy came surprisingly second in what we could call the ‘first place for humans.’
The five-woman squad of Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera was dominant after posting a combined score of 171.296, more than 5.802 points clear of Italy (165.494), who earned their first artistic gymnastics medal in 96 years.
Brazil took bronze (164.497), keeping Great Britain off the podium by a scant 0.234 points.
IMPECCABLE
Before the competition there were concerns about Simone Biles’ health. A calf injury sustained during Sunday’s qualifying session put a shadow over Biles immediate future at this Games. Instead, Simone routine was almost impeccable, especially considering she is the oldest American woman to make an Olympic gymnastics team since the 1950s.
The crucial moment – practically when Biles clinched the gold – came with a gravity-defying routine on floor, tumbling to the music of Taylor Swift and performing two of her eponymous skills.
MOST DECORATED
Biles’ gold marked her 38th career medal between the Olympics and world championships, extending her record as the most decorated gymnast in history. She seems far from being appeased, though.
Suni Lee, who came away from Tokyo with the all-around gold medal, was hungry as well to achieve Olympic glory with her teammates by her side.
“I think this time around, we’re so much more mature and know what we can do and what we can’t do. It’s super special because we all knew how much we wanted it, we put in the work and did everything that we needed to do,” Lee said.
JOB DONE
But the one to infuse calm and confidence to the teammates was definitely Simone, who shared the team’s pre-competition ritual, which involved “bumping music, loud.”
“We were just having a good time while we were getting ready,” Biles said. “And we all knew what the job was once we got in here.”
Next stop Thursday at the Bercy Arena when two Olympic all-around champions will go head to head in the all-around final for the first time. Biles against Lee. The world is waiting breathless.
Credit: AIPS Media
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