Simone Biles, the world’s most decorated gymnast, won her sixth Olympic gold medal in Paris on Thursday (August 1), reigning supreme again three years after withdrawing from the same event at the Tokyo Games.
The 27-year-old American became the oldest athlete to win the women’s all-around since Maria Gorokhovskaya did so at the 1952 Helsinki Games at age 30.
This is the second time Biles has won the all-around. She won it also at the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.
She is only the third woman to win the women’s individual all-around twice. It was won twice earlier by Larisa Latynina in 1956 and 1960, and Věra Čáslavská in 1964 and 1968.
I love my black job 🖤 https://t.co/c5wPc6xOY3
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) August 2, 2024
Tight race with Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade
In a tight race with Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, Biles was surprisingly left trailing in third place after a flawed performance on the uneven bars during the second rotation.
But 30 minutes later, Biles was leading again after a splendid performance on the balance beam.
Competing last, Biles executed an electrifying routine during her floor exercise display to secure the gold.
Biles said competing with Andrade made her nervous.
“I don’t want to compete with Rebecca no more. I’m tired. Rebeca pushes me to be my best, she’s a phenomenal athlete,” Biles said.
Andrade was quick to hug and congratulate Biles.
“It was really cool, knowing that I made her work, right?” Andrade said of Biles. “It’s an honour to be able to compete next to her.”
The Brazilian earned a second successive silver in the event, having finished behind Biles’ teammate Sunisa Lee in Tokyo.
Sunisa Lee claims bronze
Lee, the all-around gold medal winner in Tokyo, fought back from a disappointing start on the vault to claim the bronze in Paris.
Let Simone Biles be proof that mental health matters and taking time to take care of it makes you BETTER not weaker. pic.twitter.com/SnV6NkyaZS
— Taylor Banks (@MsTaylorBanks) August 1, 2024
Three years ago in Tokyo, Biles withdrew from the all-around event to take care of her mental health after suffering from the “twisties”, a condition involving the temporary loss of spatial awareness that some gymnasts can experience while executing high-difficulty elements.
There was concern about whether she would compete in the Olympics again.
Now she has won two gold medals in Paris, having led the US to the team gold on Tuesday (July 30) before winning the all-around on Thursday (August 1).