(NEXSTAR/AP) — Simone Biles and Team USA won gold Tuesday in the women’s team final inside Bercy Arena in Paris. Biles competed after tweaking her left calf during qualifying on Sunday. She showed no serious signs of injury while leading the team to victory.
The five-woman U.S. squad of Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera were heavily favored win after finishing second to Russia at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
The U.S. took the gold with 171.296 points, which was nearly six points ahead of Italy, who won silver.
Team USA got off to an early lead following vault and never looked back. Strong performances from Biles and Lee on the floor exercise locked up the competition.
Biles looked strong on balance beam scoring a 14.366. Her husband applauded her with an American flag in his hands, and Jason and Kylie Kelce cheered from their seats. Suni Lee jumped up and down after her turn on the balance beam — and so did her sisters. Evionn and Sheyenne Lee leaped to their feet in the grandstands as her sister scored a 14.600 — matching the best of the night. Chiles fell off the balance beam on her mount but got back on and completed the rest of her routine. Her mom closed her eyes and buried her head when Chiles fell. Chiles’ score of 12.733 was a big disappointment.
Lee rebounded after falling off the uneven bars in warmup to complete her routine. She smiled a sigh of relief, even though her feet brushed the mat on one of her rotations. Her score of 14.566 was best among the U.S. women. Biles and Chiles also had strong showings in the event.
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during the women’s artistic gymnastics team finals round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) -
Team USA from left to right, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee, right, pose for photos after competing in a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) -
Fans cheer during the women’s artistic gymnastics team finals round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) -
Simone Biles, of United States, competes on the uneven bars during a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
In the vault, Biles passed on her signature Yurchenko double pike vault, opting for a Cheng vault instead. She drilled it in and earned a 14.900, a stark difference from three years ago when a wonky opening vault caused her to pull out of the team competition to protect herself.
Jade Carey shook off illness and a shaky floor performance in qualifying to drill an excellent Cheng ahead of Biles. Carey received a 14.800. Jordan Chiles began the vault rotation for the Americans by earning a 14.400 for her double-twisting Yurchenko.
Biles competed in all four events despite the injury in her return to the team final. She was in the lineup for every event in Tokyo before removing herself from the competition to focus on her mental health after a wonky vault in the first rotation left her concerned she couldn’t protect herself in the air.
With Biles at her show-stopping best, the Americans’ total of 171.296 was the exclamation point of a yearlong run in which Biles has cemented her legacy as the greatest ever in her sport, and among the best in the history of the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Italy, which was a surprising second to the U.S. during qualifying, earned its first Olympic team medal since 1928 by holding off Brazil, which took bronze for its first medal in the biggest event in the sport.
Yet there was no question about the top spot. There rarely ever is when Biles is involved.