The U.S. women cruised to their fourth artistic gymnastics team title in Olympic history Tuesday evening at Bercy Arena, thrilling the crowd even when the outcome was seemingly never in question. With the highest team scores on every apparatus, Simone Biles (Spring, Texas), Jade Carey (Phoenix, Ariz.), Jordan Chiles (Vancouver, Wash.), Suni Lee (St. Paul, Minn.) and Hezly Rivera (Oradell, N.J.) posted a 171.296 to clinch the gold, nearly six points points over second-place Italy with a 165.494. Brazil was third with a 164.497.
Wearing leotards inspired by the Olympic leo of 1996, when the U.S. won its first-ever women’s gold, the Americans were dominant in turning in the highest scores of the competition on vault (44.100), uneven bars (43.332), floor exercise (42.165) and balance beam (41.699). Olympic all-around champions Biles and Lee led the American charge, putting up the highest scores of the team on each apparatus. Biles had the top U.S. score on vault (14.900) and floor (14.666), while Lee was top scorer for the team on bars (14.566) and beam (14.600). With the team gold added to her trophy room, Biles became the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history by winning her eighth medal to surpass Shannon Miller’s seven.
The American women will be featured in all final competitions throughout the week, with Biles and Lee first up for the all-around final on Thursday, August 1 at 6:15 p.m. CEST/12:15 p.m. ET. Frederick Richard (Stoughton, Mass.) and Paul Juda (Deerfield, Ill.) take on the men’s all-around final Wednesday, July 31 at 5:30 p.m. CEST/11:30 a.m. ET. Fans can visit the FIG website and the USA Gymnastics Paris info page for all information on gymnastics action at the Olympic Games.
