Simone Biles could win her ninth Olympic medal in Thursday’s all-around final, two days after leading the U.S. women’s team to gymnastics team gold in Paris.
Biles is the overwhelming favorite to enter the event after qualifying for the final by a healthy margin, and the drama could focus on the race for silver, with a rematch in Tokyo between defending champion Sunisa Lee of the USA and Brazilian Rebecca Andrade.
Lee held off Andrade for gold in the Tokyo all-around final, which Biles withdrew from due to a potentially dangerous mental block known as “twisties.”
Andrade’s overall score of 57.700 in Sunday’s qualifying in Paris is the highest total recorded by any woman this year except Biles, safely ahead of Lee’s qualifying score of 56.132.
But Lee is capable of a balance beam routine 0.7 points better than her qualifying effort, putting pressure on Andrade to repeat her strong preliminary performance.
Another group of talented gymnasts is hot on the heels of the favorites.
Algerian star Kaylia Nemour, 17, known for her daring combinations on the uneven bars, qualified for the all-around final in fourth place with 55.966 and reigning European all-around champion Manila Esposito of Italy, also 17, was just behind at 55,898.
But China’s Qiu Qiyuan, who qualified seventh with a disappointing total of 54.998, could also threaten. She suffered a fall and other errors on the balance beam, where she has world-class difficulty, earning her a score nearly two points below her likely target.
U.S. women have won the last five Olympic all-around titles, and an American woman also won silver in 2008 and 2016.
‘Ufa! No flashbacks or anything’
Biles’ teammates say she is a different person to the one who abruptly withdrew from the Tokyo Games three years ago amid a mental health crisis.
Standing at the end of the runway in front of her safe, Biles said she was not haunted by memories of her tumultuous time in Tokyo and was soon flying high as she executed the Cheng jump that helped lift the U.S. to a lead they would not relinquish. hand.
“After I finished Vault, I was relieved because, phew, there were no flashbacks or anything,” Biles said at a packed press conference.
On Tuesday, once Biles nailed it, she knew the Americans were destined to reassert their gymnastics supremacy on the world’s biggest stage.
“As soon as I got to the Vault, I thought, oh yeah, we’re definitely going to do that.”
Her teammate and close friend Jordan Chiles said she was also relieved.
“I was thinking, hallelujah, no flashbacks, no nothing,” Chiles said with a laugh.
From there, the veteran team happily celebrated each other’s achievements as they cycled through four rotations at the Bercy Arena, easily edging silver medalists Italy by almost six points. Brazil finished with bronze.
“It was super exciting,” said an ever-smiling Biles, who was seen busting out some dance moves with Chiles on the sidelines as they celebrated the completion of yet another impressive performance.
“We had fun, enjoyed each other’s time and just did our gymnastics.”
After Tokyo, Biles, 27, took a two-year break from the sport to focus on herself and has since re-emerged happier, healthier and better than ever.
“I started therapy this morning and told her [the therapist] I was feeling calm and ready. And that’s exactly what happened,” she said.
Chiles said she was proud to witness Biles’ growth.
“You can definitely tell she’s a different Tokyo person than she is now,” Chiles said.
“I always like to say that I train with the GOAT of all GOATs. She will always be in my heart, no matter what.”
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
