That she did, her smile as bright as the gold eyeliner she wore. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport/Getty ImagesRIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 11: Simone Biles (L) and Alexandra Raisman (R) of the United States celeberate after winning the gold and silver during the Women’s Individual All Around Final on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Rio Olympic Arena on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But she came back and won an Olympic medal.
Advertisement
One adorable anecdote about their friendship: Biles and Raisman are only three years apart in age, according to NBC Olympics, but both of them agree they have completely different temperaments.
Biles, who many call the best gymnast of all time, was ebullient about her team mate’s accomplishment.
She led after the first event, the vault.
Aly Raisman has several Olympic medals to her name, but that didn’t stop the tears from flowing when she realized she was about to win another on Thursday.
Following a 14.966 on the uneven bars, by far her weakest apparatus, Mustafina briefly leapt to the top of the leaderboard after she scored 15.665 on the same equipment.
Biles took the gold with a total of 62.198. It was Raisman’s first Olympic all-around medal after she lost a tiebreaker for third in London four years ago.
That’s why it was doubly exhilarating to watch as the USA ladies clawed their way to the top of the leaderboard, finishing the evening with both gold and silver medals (for Biles and Raisman, respectively).
The victory Thursday comes a day after Chinese women took gold and silver.
Biles’ triumph made her the fourth successive American to win the title – following the successes of Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin and Gabby Douglas – which is the longest winning streak by a country in the Olympic discipline. They’re the first Americans to share the all-around podium since Liukin and Johnson in 2008 and, by any measure, the most dominant duo in Olympic gymnastics history.
Between them, they have the 13 fastest times in the men’s 200-meter individual medley.
Phelps had the fastest time in the semifinals on Wednesday night, closely followed by Lochte, who dyed his hair blond for the games.
The gold medal hanging around her neck says it all. She looks very calm, very relaxed and very poised.
After Thursday’s epic win, these photos of the American gymnasts prove that their friendship can emerge from any stumbles or intense competitions they might encounter, possibly even stronger than before.
But at the 2015 world championships, she finished a disappointing fifth.
“It’s her gymnastics”, Boorman said, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Commentators breathlessly assert that she is on the cusp of becoming the greatest gymnast of all time.
She credits her current coach, Jimmy Pedro, with helping her emotionally and as a judoka.
Advertisement
“I don’t think she’s even reacting to it”, said Aimee Boorman, the only coach Biles has ever had.
