The first leg of the “redemption tour” may now be considered completed.
After winning silver in the Tokyo 2020 Games (171.296), the American women’s gymnastics team has at last made a comeback to the top of the Olympic medal podium. Italy won their first medal as an Olympic team in ninety-six years with the silver (165.494). Brazil earned its first-ever Olympic team medal (164.497) by taking home the bronze.
Having won eight Olympic medals in all, including five gold ones, Simone Biles has eclipsed the legendary Shannon Miller to become the most decorated gymnast in American history.
Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera will now go down in history as the fourth American team to win an Olympic gold medal in this particular event.
Biles showed her happiness after landing her vault, the time she got the “twisties” and had to withdraw from the team final, and at a number of other Tokyo-related events.
At least there were no flashbacks or anything, Biles said. “Yes, we’re definitely going to do this,” I thought to myself after landing the vault. I did felt a great sense of relief.
The current Olympic floor champion, Carey, opted not to compete in the event in the team final since she wasn’t feeling well after suffering a scary fall in the qualifying round.
Carey said, “This means everything to me. I feel so honoured to be a part of this team and to have been able to contribute today.” The week hasn’t exactly gone as planned, but I’m thankful that I was able to participate tonight, complete the task at hand, and provide the precise support that this squad needed.
The youngest player in the whole delegation from all sports, Rivera, was left out of every roster by the United States, which opted to rely on its veterans. Biles and Chiles participated in all four events, whereas Lee, the current Olympic all-around champion, only competed in the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.
Rivera said, “It’s been an amazing experience.” I watch how hard everyone works at the gym—both physically and mentally—so even training with them is amazing. Together, we’ve experienced a lot, and today—the day that counts—we pulled it all together. I was ecstatic to be helping them out on the floor. I’m proud of this team and it was a lot of fun to support them today.
Great Britain staged an amazing turnaround to qualify for the final, having finished eighth in the qualification round. The injuries sustained by some of the country’s top athletes before to the Games cast doubt on the team’s prospects of taking home a medal, even though they placed third in Tokyo. The team finished fourth.
