Simone Biles inspired the United States to victory in the women’s team gymnastics event as the first leg of what she has billed a “redemption tour” began with a fifth Olympic gold.
For the world’s most decorated gymnast it is a first Olympic gold since Rio 2016 after she pulled out of several events in Tokyo three years ago with the ‘twisties’ – a disorientating mental block.
Fellow sporting greats like Serena Williams and Michael Phelps were on their feet in the packed Bercy Arena as Biles’ stunning Taylor Swift-inspired floor routine sealed gold for the USA, ahead of Italy in silver and Brazil in bronze. Great Britain came an agonising fourth.
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.
Great Britain fall just short
Great Britain were close to finishing on the podium but fell agonisingly short despite a marked improvement on their performance in the qualifying round.
They were just 0.234 behind the third-placed Brazilians – which in this sport is not much more than a tiny wobble here and there.
When Alice Kinsella nailed her beam routine in the final round, her GB team-mates all celebrated, thinking they had won a medal – before realising it had not been quite enough.
“I am so proud of this team,” said Kinsella, who helped GB to a surprise bronze in this event three years ago in Tokyo.
“We gave it our all tonight and we thought we did it – I am super proud of the girls.”
There is one more chance of a women’s gymnastics medal for Great Britain when Becky Downie competes in Sunday’s uneven bars final.
She increased her difficulty level in an already stacked routine to score a stunning 14.933 on Tuesday, which should fill her with confidence going into the individual event.
Great Britain had been hit by injuries to some of their top gymnasts, including British all-around champion Ondine Achampong and Jessica Gadirova, meaning they picked teenagers Abigail Martin – still awaiting her GCSE results – Ruby Evans.
Both youngsters stepped up to the challenge on the biggest stage and delivered performances that suggest a bright future for the team.
It was a second fourth-place finish in two days for British gymnasts after the men’s team missed out on a medal on Monday.
‘Ready for it?’ You bet
It might have been a team event but the night belonged in a large part to Biles, whose floor routine starts with pop superstar Swift’s ‘… Ready for it?’
And she proved she was.
It was at this event three years ago where Biles had competed on the vault before deciding not to continue, sending shockwaves through the Games.
She then sat out four individual finals before returning for the beam final, where she clinched bronze on an emotional return.
Biles, who had entered Tokyo favourite to win five gold medals, went home having opened up a conversation about mental health – a powerful message from someone at the top of their sport that personal wellbeing and safety come above glory.
It inspired many, but also drew scorn from some who branded her a “quitter” at the time.
She then took a two-year break before returning last summer. Paris was firmly in her thoughts as she came back performing some of her best gymnastics.
And now the promise Biles has shown over the past year and in qualifying here has translated into another medal, a lot of joy and maybe some relief.
“Simone was glad it was over for today,” coach Cecile Landi said.
“The whole team hasn’t been easy, it’s had its ups and downs so to make it happen was just a relief.
“After Tokyo I’m so happy we’re here on the other side.”
