It was everything she could have ever hoped for. Three years after withdrawing from the team gymnastics final, Simone Biles found herself alone once more on the Olympic stage. But this time, the vibes were entirely different.
As the final performer of the night, Biles took to the floor to clinch the gold for Team USA. The first notes of a Taylor Swift song echoed through the Bercy Arena, setting the stage for her routine. Biles was ready.
Her signature blend of grace, power, and speed created an iconic moment that will forever live in gymnastics and Olympic lore. She nailed every element of her routine, maintaining her stride even with a slight stumble.
“I kind of knew as long as I landed on my feet on all passes, we were going to be good,” Biles said. “So as soon as I stepped out of bounds, I was like, ‘Well, there’s a line… I guess it’s not that big of a deal.’”
This performance was a testament to her resilience. After years of therapy and personal growth, Biles showcased her mental toughness and heart. “At the beginning of the day, I started off with therapy this morning, so that was super exciting. And then I told her I was feeling calm and ready,” she said.
Despite her calm, Tokyo was never far from her mind. “After I finished vault, I was relieved. I was like, ‘Wooo, because please, no flashbacks or anything,’” Biles shared.
Teammate Jordan Chiles echoed the sentiment. “Yo, hallelujah, no flashbacks. No, nothing,” Chiles said. “All she needs to do is just do her normal.”
From the moment Biles entered the Bercy Arena, she was the center of attention. Even after aggravating a calf injury during warmups, she powered through, qualifying for multiple individual finals.
Biles showed no sign of injury during the team final, demonstrating a performance reminiscent of her 2016 triumph in Rio de Janeiro. At age 27, she became the oldest American gymnast to win an Olympic medal and the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history.
As she awaited her score, gripping the floor apparatus, Biles had to know she’d done enough. When the score appeared – 14.666, securing the gold – she erupted in joy, hugging her teammates and basking in the chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!”
With the “Star-Spangled Banner” playing during the medal ceremony, Biles must have felt she had conquered one of the biggest mountains in sports. “Now that I’m much older and we have so much more experience, we’re out here really having fun and enjoying what we’re doing,” Biles reflected.
While she still has individual events ahead, Biles can relish the gold medal around her neck, knowing she has cemented her place in gymnastics and Olympic history.
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