Biles said: “I’m very excited and relieved because I’ve finally done it”.
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And after Raisman won silver Thursday night in the all-around final, she returned to her room in the Olympic Village and found a sweet, hand-written note penned by her youngest teammates – Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian.
But the ever-smiling Biles handily took the lead again on the balance beam with 15,433 points, while the Russian committed errors and slipped with just 13,866 points, and then it was time for the final floor exercises, where the American is the current – and three-time – world champion.
Dynamic on vault. Effortless on beam.
Compatriot Alexandra Raisman got silver with Russia’s Aliya Mustafina third.
The title also extended Biles’ string of all-around championships at major competitions. “To me I’m just the same Simone …”
Yes, there was a moment where she seemed human – her routine on the bar was below her best – but even that is beyond most. “I feel like I did my job tonight”.
Biles became the fourth straight American woman to capture the all-around and fifth overall. Her 14 world championships medals are the most in USA history, and her 10 golds are the most won by any gymnast.
She was the favourite to win gold and didn’t disappoint with her routine showing off her power and agility. Phelps winning time was almost two, seconds faster than silver medalist Kosuke Hagino of Japan. Phelps rival Ryan Lochte did not medal.
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Hey, Ma: World No. 1 Ma Long extended China’s utter domination of table tennis with his 4-0 gold medal win over countryman Zhang Jike, the reigning London champion.
