Simone Biles has once again etched her name in Olympic history, clinching gold in the individual all-around gymnastics competition at the 2024 Paris Games. This victory marks Biles’ sixth Olympic gold medal and her second of these games, following the team event earlier in the week. With a score of 59.131 points, Biles narrowly edged out Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, who took silver with 57.932 points, while American teammate Suni Lee secured bronze.The 27-year-old Biles’ triumph was not without its challenges. She faced a scare on the uneven bars and a small wobble on the balance beam before delivering a flawless floor routine. This victory makes Biles the oldest individual to win a gymnastics all-around gold since Maria Gorokhovskaya in 1952.Despite her dominant performance, Biles admitted to feeling stressed by the close competition with Andrade. In a lighthearted moment, Biles joked, ‘I don’t wanna compete with Rebeca no more — I’m tired,’ and ‘I don’t like it no more’. However, she also praised Andrade, saying she ‘brought out the best in me’.For her part, Andrade has made history as the most decorated Brazilian Olympian, now holding four Olympic medals. She expressed gratitude and pride in her performance, stating, ‘I’m very happy, I’m very happy indeed. I know it wasn’t my best competition, but I’m proud to be representing my country’.This competition has further cemented Biles’ legacy in the sport. She now holds nine Olympic medals in total, matching the great Nadia Comaneci of Romania. Biles humbly reflected on her achievements, saying, ‘I don’t keep track, I don’t keep statistics. I just come here and do what I’m supposed to do, I do what I love and I enjoy it, so that’s really all that matters’.
Key points
- Simone Biles won gold in the individual all-around gymnastics competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- Rebeca Andrade of Brazil took silver, while Suni Lee of the USA won bronze.
- Biles’ victory marks her sixth Olympic gold medal and ninth overall, tying Nadia Comaneci’s record.
- At 27, Biles became the oldest individual to win a gymnastics all-around gold since 1952.
