Simone Biles remains unmatched in gymnastics, even when not at her best. The American gymnastics star narrowly defeated Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade in a nail-biting Olympic all-around final on Thursday. Biles achieved a score of 59.131, just over a point higher than Andrade’s 57.932, marking one of the closest competitions Biles has ever faced at a major international event.
Simone Biles of the United States celebrated her gold medal victory during the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around finals at Bercy Arena. The Tokyo Olympics champion, Sunisa Lee, secured bronze despite enduring multiple kidney diseases over the past 15 months, which cast doubt on her return to the Games. However, the competition concluded like many others Biles has participated in over the past 11 years: with hugs and another gold medal.
The margin was the smallest in a major international event since Biles won the third of her record six world championships in 2015. At 27, Biles has redefined gymnastics, becoming the third woman to win two Olympic titles, joining Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union and Vera Caslavska of Czechoslovakia. Biles is also the oldest woman to win this title since Maria Gorokhovskaya of the Soviet Union in 1952.
Biles’ sixth gold and ninth overall medal, matching Romanian legend Nadia Comaneci, did not come easily. She misjudged a transition on the uneven bars, her weakest event, but managed to recover. Despite the deductions, she quickly bounced back with a strong performance on the balance beam, the highest score of the night, overtaking Andrade.
Andrade needed an exceptional floor routine to catch Biles but made minor errors that gave Biles the advantage. Biles’ routine, featuring music from Taylor Swift and Beyonce, included the hardest tumbling ever performed by a woman. After completing her routine, Biles embraced Lee and celebrated her victory, blowing kisses to the cameras.
Biles and Lee, both Olympic champions, celebrated with an American flag. Lee, who won gold in Tokyo, became the first gymnast to win an all-around gold in one Olympics and another medal in the next since Comaneci. With more event finals ahead, Biles is solidifying her status as one of the greatest American Olympians.
Biles is no longer the young prodigy from Rio de Janeiro. Now married and an advocate for mental health and survivors of sexual abuse, she has openly discussed her personal therapy sessions. After a rocky bars routine, Biles centered herself, closed her eyes, and prepared to move forward. She has repeatedly stated that the challenges she faced in Tokyo are in the past, focusing on her present achievements.
