Tonight’s closing ceremonies start at 7 p.m.
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Biles, along with Aly Raisman and Madison Kocian spent their Saturday showing off their incredible muscles in bikinis on Rio’s famous Barra da Tijuca beach.
One of the more striking images of these Olympics will have to be the 4-foot-9 Biles holding the massive flag of her country as her Team USA teammates paraded into Maracana Stadium. Hopefully they got their fill of the Brazilian sun before heading home to be welcomed as heroes.
The only other gymnast to serve as an Olympic flag bearer was Alfred Jochim, who did so at the Berlin 1936 Games’ Opening Ceremonies.
Soon enough, she’ll have to start thinking about defending her record in Tokyo in four years, but for now, she deserves to celebrate.
Given how easily Biles handled everything else at the Rio Olympics – her five medals matched Katie Ledecky for second-most by any athlete – she’s sure to do just fine. The actor showed up to surprise Simone after her floor routine win, and she literally could not stop smiling.
“I’m afraid the flag is going to be too heavy for me”, the four-time gold medalist said Sunday.
Influenced by his spirit and two decades after the 1996 Games, Biles was among a host of Team USA Olympians to pay tribute to Ali.
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US gymnasts Laurie Hernandez, Simone Biles, Madison Kocian, Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman – will go on tour together when they return to the U.S. Now, 80 years on, Biles made history when she was given the opportunity.
