Simone Biles Leads Team USA To Artistic Gymnastics Gold
Simone Biles led Team USA to gold in the women's artistic gymnastics team final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, completing her redemption tour in spectacular fashion. The U.S. team scored 171.296, well ahead of silver medallists Italy and bronze-winning Brazil, who earned their first medal in the event.
"It feels amazing. We love it, we’re excited. We got the job done," said Biles.
Team USA Win Artistic Gymnastics Gold For Fourth Time
This victory marks the fourth U.S. win in this event, with previous titles in Atlanta 1996, London 2012, and Rio 2016. Three years ago, Biles withdrew from the Tokyo finals due to the 'twisties,' a condition causing a temporary loss of spatial awareness.
Her Tokyo experience motivated Biles and her teammates, including Tokyo returners Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, and Jade Carey, along with newcomer Hezly Rivera.
Biles, competing with her left calf taped, anchored the team with a strong vault score of 14.900. "As soon as I landed vault, I was like 'oh yeah, we're definitely going to do this'," she said.
Carey, the Tokyo floor champion, contributed significantly despite dealing with an illness.
"This week hasn't exactly gone how I wanted it to, but I'm just grateful that I was able to come out tonight and get the job done," Carey remarked.
The crowd at Bercy Arena, including celebrities like Serena Williams and Michael Phelps, cheered the American team's every move. Biles’ stellar performances on all four apparatus reinforced her status as one of the world's greatest athletes.
"I'm doing what I love and enjoying it, that's all that matters to me," she said, acknowledging her 38 world and Olympic medals combined.
Italy and Brazil Take Silver And Bronze
Italy secured their first women's Olympic team medal since 1928, and Brazil's historic bronze was propelled by Rebeca Andrade's incredible vault. Britain's team finished fourth, narrowly missing the podium despite strong performances, especially from Alice Kinsella on the beam.
Biles Sees Success In Redemption Tour
Biles' journey back to the top has been remarkable. After withdrawing from several events in Tokyo for mental health reasons, she returned with new skills and a renewed focus. Her performance in Paris demonstrated not just physical prowess but also resilience and growth.
"They called it their redemption tour, and that's what it is," said coach Cecile Landi. "They wanted the gold they couldn't get in Tokyo."
The night belonged to Biles, especially during her Taylor Swift-inspired floor routine that sealed the gold for Team USA.
"You can definitely tell that she's a different person from Tokyo than she is now," said Chiles, highlighting Biles' transformation over the past three years.
With four more finals still to come, Biles’ journey at the Paris Games is far from over. Her next opportunity is in the all-around final, followed by the vault, floor, and beam finals. As she continues to compete, Biles remains focused on her goals and the legacy she is building, both as an athlete and an advocate for mental health.
"Simone was glad it was over for today," coach Landi added. "After Tokyo, I'm so happy we're here on the other side."
