Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, returning to the Olympic stage after suffering a mental breakdown at the Tokyo Games three years ago, won her first title in Paris in the team all-around on Tuesday with her American partners.
At 27, Biles now has five Olympic crowns to her immense list of achievements. The Texan, coached by Frenchmen Cécile and Laurent Landi, is still qualified for four of the five individual finals, with the exception of the uneven bars.
Her next final, the all-around, is scheduled for Thursday. Her apparatus finals will follow on Saturday (vault) and Monday (beam and floor).
Three years ago in Tokyo, it was during the team all-around final that the Olympics turned into a nightmare for Biles. She suddenly dropped out after just one vault, before explaining that she was struggling with “twisties,” a type of loss of direction in space that is dangerous for gymnasts.
Nevertheless, she won a silver medal with the United States, but only took part in the beam final at the end of the competition, where she won a bronze medal.
Biles did not return to competition until two years later, in the summer of 2023 in the United States, and the following fall on the international stage, with an astonishing quadruple at the World Championships in Antwerp (Belgium).
In the Arena Bercy on Tuesday evening, Biles, her left calf still bandaged, her leotard in the American colours with sequins, re-enchanted her Olympic history by adorning herself with gold with her teammates Jordan Chiles and Sunisa Lee, in front of an audience of stars, from gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci to tennis legend Serena Williams, including Nicole Kidman, Spike Lee and Bill Gates.
With a total of 171.296 points, the Americans beat Italy (165.494) and Rebeca Andrade’s Brazil (164.497).
Biles’ fifth Olympic title is her first since winning four in Rio eight years ago. In Brazil, she won gold in the team all-around, individual all-around, floor exercise and vault, plus bronze on balance beam.
His collection of 23 world titles and 30 world medals, built up between 2013 and 2023, is unmatched.