American gymnastics superstar Simone Biles has again proven she is one of the all-time greats, claiming another gold medal in a tense Olympic all-around final on Thursday.
Biles edged out Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade by the barest of margins, with Tokyo gold medallist Sunisa Lee in third.
Biles’ total of 59.131 was just over a point ahead of Andrade at 57.932, one of the closest calls Biles has ever endured at a major international event.
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The margin was the smallest in a major international event since Biles captured the third of her record six world championships in 2015.
She was a teenager then. She’s an icon now and also has cemented her unofficial title as the GOAT of gymnastics.
Upon receiving her gold medal, the necklace she wore — with a goat pendant — caught the attention of the world and sent fans into a frenzy.
The Bleacher Report social account was quick to point out the bling.
“Simone Biles rocking a goat chain under her gold medal is too tough,” they said on X (formerly Twitter).
Fans mostly agreed and comments such as “she really is the goat” and “goat things” and “certified goat” followed.
“Simone Biles wearing a goat chain under her gold medal is a bold statement of her greatness, solidifying her status as the GOAT in gymnastics,” another fan observed.
However, not everyone is on board.
“Is anybody humble and classy anymore? A goat necklace? Jesus,” one person said. and others thought it was “arrogant”.
Biles was also aware that it divided fans.
“My GOAT necklace – some people love it, some people hate it,” she said.
“It is crazy I’m in the conversation of greatest of all athletes because I’m just Simone Biles from Spring in Texas.
“Three years ago I never thought I’d step on a gymnastic court again, but worked hard, mentally and physically, even saw my therapist this morning, just making sure I’m mentally well.”
The 27-year-old who is redefining what a gymnast can do — and just as notably, for how long she can do it — is the third woman to become a two-time Olympic champion, joining Larisa Latynina and Vera Caslavska.
Biles also is the oldest woman to claim the biggest title in her sport since 30-year-old Maria Gorokhovskaya, of the Soviet Union, won the first-ever Olympic all-around in Melbourne in 1952.
Yet Biles’ sixth gold and ninth overall medal — the same as Romanian great Nadia Comaneci, who was among the star-studded crowd — did not come as easy as so many that came before.
She misjudged a transition on uneven bars, the weakest of her four events, letting go of the upper bar too soon and forcing her to reach for a larger-than-expect gap.
While she didn’t fall — Biles muscled her way back into the routine — it blunted her momentum and led to major deductions that left her trailing Andrade through two rotations.
The deficit didn’t last.
Biles responded with a largely wobble-free 14.566 on the balance beam, the best beam score of the night, while Andrade was forced to do a major balance check, dropping her to second.
On the floor — Biles’ signature event — the American performed a 75-second set including music from Taylor Swift and Beyonce, featuring the hardest tumbling ever done by a woman in the sport’s history.
When she was done — sealing gold that served as a redemption of sorts three years after pulling out of multiple finals in Tokyo to focus on her mental health — Biles sprinted to hug Lee just off the podium.
Lee earned bronze despite spending much of the last 15 months dealing with multiple kidney diseases that left her return to the Games very much in doubt.
Biles could still win more at this Games, in three event finals, yet she is already in the conversation as perhaps the greatest American Olympian ever.
Biles is no longer the prodigy who triumphed in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago.
She’s married and a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and the importance of proper mental health.
She has said repeatedly over the last three years that what happened in Tokyo is a part of her past, not a part of her present, and if critics have a problem with it, that’s their issue, not hers.
She’s moved on to bigger things. Like setting a standard that may never be reached — in her sport, and maybe all others, too.
– With AAP