Simone Biles picked up the seventh Olympic gold medal of her career with a sensational showing in the women’s vault final in Paris on Saturday. The American gymnastics icon executed one of the most impressive vaults of her illustrious showreel to raise the roof off of the Bercy Arena and secure her third gold of the 2024 Olympics.
Biles produced a backflip into two-and-a-half somersaults in pike position for her first vault, leaving BBC’s commentators Matt Baker, Craig Heap and Christine Still hopeful she had breached a score of 16.
The 15.7 she received was just as impressive, and she followed that up with a safer jump for 14.9 to record a combined score of 15.3.
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Biles cut a confident figure before she took to the runway, moments after taking a tumble on the second of two warm-up attempts before the final commenced.
But that didn’t faze her as she enjoyed a relaxed conversation with USA teammate Jade Carey before doing what she does best on the biggest stage.
Biles had already won two gold medals in Paris, triumphing in the women’s individual all-around and team all-around earlier in the week.
The 27-year-old’s vault success wasn’t a given, though, under competition from Brazil’s reigning Olympic champion, Rebecca Andrade.
Following her all-around victory, Biles admitted that she couldn’t help but feel threatened by Andrade after she took gold in Tokyo three years ago.
“I’ve never had an athlete that close – it definitely put me on my toes and brought out the best athlete in myself,” said the American.
The Brazilian, like Biles, didn’t disappoint those in attendance by totalling 15.100 with a flawless first vault that involved a round-off, half-turn and then a one-and-a-half turn.
Her second attempt was just as impressive, but one difficulty mark less than Biles, earning a score of 14.833 to send her into the silver medal position with a 14.966 average.
Carey was the final of the eight gymnasts to step up and joined her USA teammate on the podium with an outstanding effort, knocking North Korea’s An Chang-ok out of the bronze medal position.
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