Simone Biles clinched another gold medal in the women’s gymnastics all-around final on Thursday night. This victory makes Biles the oldest all-around champion since 1952.
Biles, 27, dazzled the audience with her Yurchenko double pike vault. This complex maneuver, renamed after her in 2023, earned her a score of 15.766. Despite a slight slip on the uneven bars, she scored 14.566 on the balance beam, maintaining a slim lead over Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.
Biles’ Near-Perfect Floor Routine
Biles secured her victory with a near-perfect floor exercise routine, scoring 15.066. This win gives her six gold medals and nine overall, making her the most decorated American gymnast. Biles also became the oldest all-around champion since Maria Gorokhovskaya in 1952.
Biles’ triumph marks a significant comeback after withdrawing from the 2020 Tokyo Games due to mental health challenges. She expressed relief after completing her vault, stating, “After I finished vault, I was relieved. I was like, ‘Phew,’ because [there were] no flashbacks or anything.”
Biles’ family, including her husband Jonathan Owens and parents Nellie and Ronald Biles, cheered her on from the crowd. Celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Tony Hawk, Stephen Curry, Martha Stewart, and Seth Rogen also attended.
Her victory comes two days after Biles, Suni Lee, and their teammates Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera won gold in the team final. Lee also secured a bronze medal in the all-around final with a score of 13.535 on the floor exercise.
Thursday’s win marked Biles’ 39th medal between the Olympics and World Championships, the all-time record among gymnasts. Despite her achievements, Biles remains humble, saying, “I don’t keep count, I don’t keep stats. I just go out here and do what I’m supposed to and I’m doing what I love and enjoying it.”