Simone Biles joined the ranks of gymnastics legends on Thursday with stardom awaiting the Cinderella who has overcome a hard past to claim the coveted Olympic women’s all-around title for a second gold in Rio.
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In an interview with NBC before the games, Biles joked that the team called 22-year-old Raisman the team’s “grandma” (she’s the oldest on the team) while Raisman thinks 19-year-old Biles “is the insane one”. Her margin of victory – 2.1 points over teammate Aly Raisman – was larger than in every Olympic competition from 1980 through 2012 combined (this stat is a little misleading due to the Perfect-10 system being thrown out after 2004, but still mighty impressive). The tears flowed freely down Biles’ face as she received her medal, following a dazzling performance on the floor exercise.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images (R-L) Russia’s Aliya Mustafina, US gymnast Simone Biles and US gymnast Alexandra Raisman celebrate on the podium of the women’s individual all-around final of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016.
The 19-year-old – world champion in all-around, balance beam and floor – ensured that the women’s event would not have the nail-biting finale which saw Kohei Uchimura win by 0.099 of a point 24 hours previously. Biles struggled so much in a U.S. Championships tune-up meet that she was pulled by Boorman before completing the competition. So, I just stay out of it.
Harrison has spoken out about sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of a former coach, which began when she was 13 and lasted for three years, taking place at times when they traveled to judo competitions. Raisman, who won three medals in London four years ago and seemed to be on the outside looking in as recently as this spring, followed with perhaps the finest vault of her long career.
“She is right on the top”, Karolyi, who along with her husband Bela steered Romanian Nadia Comaneci to the first flawless 10 at the 1976 Olympics, told reporters. And Biles did what she always does in her floor exercise: Crushed it. Glitter from Biles’ eyes dried on her cheeks. This is the second bronze Olympic medal in a row for the Russian gymnast.
Fleming said every time Raisman finished a part of her routine, the children cheered.
“No one goes into this thinking they can beat Simone”, Raisman said.
Watching from close by was Aimee Boorman, who has coached Biles for almost the gymnast’s whole career.
Seriously, there are times she somersaulted so high it looked like she could have dunked, and other times she twisted like red, white and blue carnival taffy.
Putting aside the disconcerting lime-like waters at the aquatics center, the focus of the Rio Games turned toward the emerald green fairways of the Olympic Golf Course on Thursday. Raisman and Biles started out on the vault.
One that she does better than anyone else. “I’m just Simone Biles, but it’s awesome to be recognized for all of this success for myself and for team US”, she added.
“I saw my coach in the stands but it’s just insane I don’t have words”, said Raisman. Biles has won three straight world championships and now, in Rio, a team and individual all-around gold.
From beam, she went to floor where she turned in a strong performance and landed in a tie for the bronze with Russia’s Aliya Mustafina but through a complicated tie-breaking procedure, Raisman ended up in the bridesmaid spot-fourth place-and without a medal.
Simone Biles doesn’t want to get drawn into the debate of where she ranks in history.
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Mustafina briefly led on the scoreboard Thursday after the second rotation, the uneven bars, but that was an illusion. “I feel like I did my best and that’s all you can do”. “She’s so small, but at the same time powerful … and she is so nice”.
