Simone Biles Shines Bright: Team USA Clinches Gold in a Historic Olympic Triumph

Simone Biles Shines Bright: Team USA Clinches Gold in a H...

By Jason Bolton July 31, 2024 11:05

Lionel Bonaventure / AFP - Getty Images

In the ongoing 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, The Team United States of America Gymnastic, led by the legendary Simone Biles, cruised to another Olympic gold medal on Tuesday night at Bercy Arena, landing on top of the podium for the third time in four Summer Games appearances. They finished nearly six points clear of silver medalists Italy, with Brazil taking bronze. It was never very close one, so it was a total domination. "It was so exciting. We had fun. We had a good time out there and just did our gymnastics," Biles told the Press.

Less than 48 hours after suffering calf soreness in qualifying, Biles competed and excelled - in all four events, beginning with a flying Cheng vault and ending with her iconic floor routine set.

In an interview granted to the Press Chelsie Memmel, a technical director for the US women's team said the victory speaks volumes of Simone Biles strength "What she was able to recover from with the entire world watching, and watching with a magnifying glass again, just waiting to see what she was going to accomplish. We knew she could do it like that. It was never a question in my mind that she could accomplish it, and it only solidifies her status as the greatest gymnast of all time."

Biles' teammates also contributed significantly to their win. Suni Lee, the defending Olympic all-around champion, excelled on balancing beam and uneven bars. Jordan Chiles, like Biles, competed in all four events and finished with only one major error, on balance beam. Jade Carey, who has been battling illness, hit a fantastic vault in her only event of the evening.

"Having this opportunity definitely felt really good," Chiles told the press. "And to be a part of the team earning this gold medal and going through everything has been an incredible experience. So, I'm incredibly proud of all of us that are up here. This smile will never stop beaming since it has been such a fantastic experience."

Following the Fierce Five and the Final Five, this group, led by Biles, expressed a desire to redeem itself after winning silver at the 2021 Tokyo Games.

"The four of them called it their redemption tour, that they certainly did," Memmel told reporters. It was at those same Olympics, and in this team final, that Biles abruptly withdrew from competition due to what she subsequently disclosed to be a case of the "twisties," which left her feeling sad and dangerous as she spun through the air. Perhaps it was right that in her first event of the final, she was back on vault, and twisting with confidence in her Cheng vault, which is one of the hardest in the world.

"As soon as I landed vault, I was like, 'Oh yeah we're gonna do this,'" Biles told the Press. It was obvious from the start that tonight would be different. All four gymnasts that participated for Team USA were also on the team in Tokyo, when COVID-19 restrictions had left the arena nearly empty. So, after the United States won gold on Tuesday night, one of Biles' coaches, Cecile Landi, was asked what it was like to get here over the last three years - for both Biles and the team. "A lot. This is all I have to say. A lot" Landi described the past three years as a roller coaster, including both happy and bad times. "So today's just amazing"