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Rio 2016: Biles to close golden Games as U.S. flag bearer

The 19-year-old gymnast, who won four gold and one bronze medal during the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, will be carrying the red, white and blue flag for the ceremonies on Sunday, August 21st.

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Biles was chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA members and is just the second gymnast to be named flag bearer for the US, after Alfred Jochim in the opening ceremony in 1936.

Strength, of course, can’t be considered an issue.

After Biles completed competition on Tuesday, she met Efron, her celebrity crush, whom NBC asked to come to Rio to meet her.

Athletes lined up to get a selfie with Biles, victor of four gold and one bronze medal, and she happily posed with her fellow athlete fans, even while holding a flag more than twice her size.

As an undeniable breakout star these games, Biles was an easy choice for the Americans.

Other countries also used their closing ceremony flag-bearer position to showcase young standout talents who impressed at the Rio Games.

Biles is the first female gymnast to carry the US flag at a closing ceremony and is just the second gymnast to carry the flag-Alfred Jochim carried the flag at the Opening Ceremony in 1936.

Even before her performance at Rio, Biles was widely recognized as one of the world’s best gymnasts, having won 10 World Championships titles since 2013.

Biles responded to the president’s Tweet with her trademark enthusiasm.

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Simone Biles is having a great month.

Alexandrew Loureiro