Simone Biles secured her third gold medal of the 2024 Olympics in Paris on Saturday, achieving this feat with her signature vault, the Biles II.
Biles first showcased the Biles II in 2021, a remarkably challenging routine that demonstrates her exceptional skill. However, at the Tokyo Olympics, she was unable to perform it due to experiencing the “twisties,” a sudden loss of spatial awareness. This condition led her to withdraw from several events, including the vault final.
In the Olympic vault final, Biles made her long-awaited comeback. The Biles II played a pivotal role in securing her gold medal. When asked if this might be her final competition, Biles responded, “Is this my last? Definitely the Yurchenko double pike. I mean, I kind of nailed that one. Never say never. The next Olympics is at home. So you just never know.”
In the final, gymnasts’ scores are determined by averaging two different routines. The Biles II, which she executed flawlessly, involves a sprint followed by a cartwheel into a backward handspring onto the vaulting table, culminating in two flips with her legs extended in a pike position. This vault, with a difficulty score of 6.4, is currently the most difficult in women’s gymnastics.
Her first vault scored 15.7 with a minor deduction for stepping out of bounds, while her second vault garnered 14.9, bringing her total to 15.3, narrowly ahead of Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who finished with a silver medal. Andrade, regarded as the second-best gymnast globally, previously won gold at the Tokyo Olympics after Biles’ withdrawal and bested her in the vault at the last World Championships.
American gymnast Jade Carey clinched the bronze medal with a score of 14.466. Biles has two events left in the competition, the balance beam and floor exercise, offering her the chance to equal her record medal tally from the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she earned four golds and a bronze.
As the Games progress, Biles has faced inquiries about possible retirement, especially at 27, an age significantly older than most of her counterparts. By the time the 2028 Olympics arrive, she will be 31.
Despite the speculation, Biles expressed her enjoyment of the sport, saying, “Once we’re out here, the floor is our stage… it just feels so freeing for us.” She acknowledged that as athletes grow older, there are increased risks and awareness, but she maintains her passion for gymnastics.