Gymnastics Live Updates: Simone Biles Nails Final Routine to Win Second All-Around Gold

Biles, 27, won the all-around title at the Paris Games, becoming the oldest all-around champion since 1952 and only the third woman — and first since 1968 — to win two Olympic all-around titles.

Biles, returning to the sport’s top stage after withdrawing from the team event in 2021, beat out stiff competition from Rebeca Andrade of Brazil. Sunisa Lee of the United States claimed the bronze.

Three years after withdrawing from the team final of the Tokyo Olympics with a mental block, a move that prompted critics to call her a loser, a quitter and un-American, Simone Biles on Thursday proved to the world — and to herself — that she was unstoppable.

I can’t stop thinking about how different this is from the gymnastics competition at the Tokyo Games. It’s night and day; empty, silent stadiums because of Covid-related precautions back then and packed, screaming crowds now. Biles and Lee are walking around the arena waving and showing off their medals to cheers. The emotions in here are high and joy is palpable.

“For me, personally tonight, it means the world to me and it’s just so crazy,” Biles said. “I don’t want to compete with Rebeca no more, I’m tired. Way too close. I’ve never had an athlete that close, so it definitely put me on my toes.”