The United States is at the top of the world once again, dominating the field to win the gold medal of the women’s gymnastics team final on Tuesday.
Simone Biles put up massive scores in all four events, posting a competition-high 14.666 on floor to officially secure the title. Jordan Chiles also competed in all four events, putting up a big performance on bars and floor, while Suni Lee thrived in routines on bars, beam and floor. Jade Carey contributed with a strong performance on vault as well to clinch the gold.
Italy took silver, while Brazil and all-around contender Rebeca Andrade took the bronze.
Biles, 27, had made a sparkling return to the Olympic stage in Sunday’s qualifying event, topping the all-around standings, booking her spot in three apparatus finals and also helping to send the United States into the team final as top qualifiers.
And on Tuesday she carried on where she had left off as the Americans reclaimed the title they had lost to the Russian Olympic Committee at Tokyo 2020 in a final where Biles pulled out after the first rotation to protect her mental and physical health.
That led to her withdrawing from several other finals before returning to take bronze on the beam. She then took two years out before returning last year with Paris firmly in her sights and with even more skills in her repertoire.
Arriving to a deafening reception from a crowd full of anticipation, Biles played it safe in the first rotation on vault with the ‘easier’ of her routines, rather than the harder one she did in qualifying.
She then delivered excellent bars and beam routines before a crowd-pleasing floor display that sealed gold – and brought the whole arena to their feet as she and her team-mates jumped up and down in celebration.
Biles’ left calf was taped up as it was in qualifying but there was no hint of that bothering her as she and team-mates Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera posted a total of 171.296 to complete a convincing victory over Italy on 165.494.
Receiving her medal on top of the podium, eight years after she was last there, Biles smiled and waved to the crowd.
With four more finals still to come, it may not be the last time she does that. BBC
