The day after the Olympic women’s all-around was decided, Simone Biles posted a video on social media in which she indicated people had asked her what she would do if she didn’t win. Then, showing her gold medal, she said we’ll never know. As the Olympic Games move toward their conclusion, Biles’ supremacy has been decisively established. She didn’t need to wear her GOAT necklace to prove it, although she clearly enjoyed flashing it to the naysayers.
“Simone is truly an inspiration to every single gymnast in the world,” said Kady Bills-McCoy, a member of the gymnastics team at Long Island University. “Other gymnasts will always be pushing to be as good as she is.”
Biles leaves Paris with three gold medals and one silver, a sense of satisfaction, and the gratitude of a nation who cheered her every flip, spin, and breathtaking maneuver. Along the way, she led the U.S. women’s gymnastics team to gold. Then, she reclaimed the all-around title she first won at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, followed by a gold medal in the vault, and silver on floor exercise. Let’s not forget the rest of the amazing women’s team: Suni Lee, the all-around gold medalist from the Tokyo 2021 Games, took bronze in the all-around and uneven bars. Jade Carey won a bronze medal in the vault, and Jordan Chiles won bronze on floor.
“Having an experienced team was really a strength for the Americans,” said Bills-McCoy, who is excited that three of the U.S. women have also competed in collegiate gymnastics. “Four of the girls were already experienced Olympians…and knew what the nerves and things would be like. They knew how to hit their routines, and that was really beneficial.” The only first-time Olympian was 16-year-old New Jersey native Hezly Rivera, who will likely be the experienced elder in four years. “It was also a strength to have a younger girl on the team because she brought some lightheartedness,” said Bills-McCoy.
It wasn’t only about the Americans. Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade left Paris with four medals. She led her team to its first-ever bronze medal and defeated Biles on floor exercise. “There’s not a limit to who can be on the podium or who can be in the sport,” said Bills-McCoy. “It was amazing getting to see nations make some history and get a taste of what it’s like to be the best.”