Simone Biles led the United States women’s gymnastics team to a resounding victory in the team event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, securing her fifth Olympic gold medal and eighth overall. The team, which included Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Sunisa Lee, dominated the competition with a total score of 171.296 points, finishing 5.802 points ahead of silver medalists Italy, while Brazil took bronze.This victory marks a triumphant return for Biles and the US team after their challenges at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. Biles, who had previously withdrawn from events due to mental health concerns, described this performance as part of a ‘redemption tour’. ‘It was a great day,’ Biles said, expressing relief after successfully completing her vault routine without any ‘flashbacks’ to past struggles.The 27-year-old Biles has now surpassed Shannon Miller to become the most decorated US Olympic gymnast in history. Her total of 38 medals in major international competitions cements her status as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. Despite this achievement, Biles remains focused on the present, saying, ‘I’m doing what I love and enjoying it, that’s all that matters to me’.Looking ahead, Biles has qualified for four individual event finals: all-around, vault, beam, and floor exercise. If she wins all four, she could equal Larisa Latynina’s record for the most Olympic gold medals in gymnastics. The all-around final is scheduled for Thursday, where Biles will face off against her US teammate Suni Lee and Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade.This victory not only highlights Biles’ exceptional talent but also showcases the depth and strength of the US women’s gymnastics program. As US head coach Cecile Landi noted, ‘Everything that she has been through was so worth it, and today, she just proved to herself most importantly that she is still top of the world’.
Key points
- Simone Biles led the US women’s gymnastics team to gold in the Paris 2024 Olympics team event.
- Biles broke the record for most Olympic medals by a US gymnast, securing her eighth overall.
- The US team scored 171.
- Biles has qualified for four individual event finals and could potentially equal Larisa Latynina’s record for most Olympic gold medals in gymnastics.
296 points, finishing 5.
802 points ahead of silver medalists Italy.
