Simone Biles Wins 2nd Career All-Around Gold by Hannah Barton
PARIS — Simone Biles’ place in gymnastics history reached new heights Thursday night. She took home a second gold medal in the women’s all-around final with a score of 59.131, narrowly beating Rebeca Andrade of Brazil eight years after earning her first. Biles became the third female gymnast to win two Olympic all-around titles and the first to ever do so in non-consecutive Games.
At the end of an historic night, Biles and Suni Lee, the gold medal winner three years ago in Tokyo, raced onto the floor in celebration. Lee secured the bronze medal, finishing with an overall score of 56.465. This is the third time the U.S. has put two gymnasts on the podium in the women’s all-around, the first since 2016 when Biles and Aly Raisman took home gold and silver.
The last gymnast to win two Olympic all-around finals was Vera Caslavska of Czechoslovakia in 1964 and 1968. At the age of 27, Biles is now the oldest woman to become a champion since 30-year-old Maria Gorokhovskaya of the Soviet Union won in 1952.
The unprecedented presence of two past all-around gold medalists competing in the same all-around final at the Olympics made this final historic before Lee and Biles even took the floor. As with the women’s team final, Bercy Arena was packed and American flags could be seen in almost every section of the crowd. Big names and other Team USA athletes came to show their support, including men’s basketball stars Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
“You don’t see crossover in sports that much unless it’s the Olympics,” said Biles on the other athletes in attendance. “It’s amazing that we have that support from them and that gymnastics is on such a big stage during the Olympics because it truly shows how much hard work we put in.” To read more go to the link below:
