You may now consider the “redemption tour’s” first segment to be over.
The American women’s gymnastics team, who placed second in the Tokyo 2020 Games (171.296), has at last made a comeback to the top of the Olympic medal podium. Italy earned its first Olympic team medal in ninety-six years with the silver (165.494). Brazil won the bronze and its first-ever Olympic medal as a team (164.497).
Simone Biles has eclipsed the renowned Shannon Miller to become the most decorated American gymnast in history with eight Olympic medals in total—five of them gold.
Going down in history, Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera are the fourth American team to win an Olympic gold medal in this particular event.
When Biles landed her vault, when she got the “twisties” that made her pull out of the team final, and throughout many other events in Tokyo, she exhibited her joy.
Biles said, “I was like, phew, at least no flashbacks or anything.” “After I landed in the vault, I felt a great sense of relief and thought, ‘Oh yeah, we’re definitely going to do this.'”
Carey, the current Olympic floor champion, opted not to compete in the event in the team final after suffering a scary fall in the qualifying round, citing unwellness.
“I’m so honoured to be on this team and to have been able to contribute today; this means everything to me,” Carey said. “Though the week hasn’t gone exactly as planned, I’m thankful that I was able to compete tonight, finish the job, and provide the exact support this team needed from me.”
Rivera was the youngest player in the whole delegation from all sports, but the U.S. chose to rely on its veterans and did not select him in any of the lineups. Biles and Chiles competed in all four events, whereas Lee, the current Olympic all-around champion, only competed on the uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” Rivera said. “Even practicing with them is amazing because I see how much effort each person puts out in the gym, both mentally and physically. Together, we have experienced a great deal, and now, the important day, we brought it all together. Being on the floor and helping them made me very happy. I’m proud of this team and had a great time supporting them today.
Having finished eighth in the qualifying round, Great Britain achieved an amazing feat of reaching the final. Even though the team placed third in Tokyo, injuries to several of the top athletes in the country before to the Games cast doubt on the squad’s prospects of taking home a medal. The team finished in fourth place.