PARIS — They came seeking redemption — both as a team and as individuals.
The goal was to return America to the top of the women’s gymnastics podium and experience the magical moments they missed during the bubbled-up pandemic Olympics of Tokyo. They came to win.
And win they did.
The United States’ women’s gymnastics team dominated, securing gold in the team competition with a score of 171.296, a full 5.802 points ahead of second-place Italy. Brazil took bronze.
It was a display of talent and tenacity from the start. The Americans led early — by 1.434 points after the first rotation — and while the final score didn’t match the commanding 9.59-point margin of victory in Rio 2016, this win was never really in doubt. The U.S. recorded the highest score on all four rotations.
This victory returned Olympic champion status to the U.S. after slipping to silver in Tokyo when star Simone Biles had to withdraw after a single vault. The Russians won then but were absent this time due to their country’s military actions in Ukraine.
The Americans previously won team gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and have claimed every team World Championship since 2011.
Quite perfectly, the event ended with Biles delivering a rousing 14.666 on floor, her most electrifying event, in front of a hyped and packed Bercy Arena.
The team — Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey, and Jordan Chiles — did it as a group of 20-somethings, a rarity in a sport that often favors the youth. They were four competitors from Tokyo, where even great moments were dimmed by the isolation of the pandemic.
They overcame personal doubts about whether returning here, let alone triumphing, was possible. They did it together, describing their bond as a “sisterhood,” four women full of life experiences, beaming smiles, and waves to the crowd as they rolled through this event.
Biles, 27, was part of the golden 2016 team and won all-around gold in Rio as well. Tokyo was a disaster for her, as she suffered from an inability to judge her position in the air during twists. She had to drop out of the team event, sparking massive controversy and criticism.
Biles “never pictured going to another Olympic Games after Tokyo just because of the circumstances,” she said last month. “I never thought I’d go back in the gym again and be twisting [and] feel free.”
Instead, she worked until she wasn’t just back, but even better. She won the 2023 individual world championships and has pushed the sport to unprecedented levels of difficulty.
On Tuesday, wearing a wrap around her left calf to support some tightness she felt in qualifying, she was clearly the best gymnast in the world. She hit a team-high 14.900 on the vault — the event she couldn’t complete in Tokyo — then followed with a 14.400 on bars.
Lee, 21, stepped in for Biles in Tokyo and helped lead the Americans to that hard-fought silver. Two nights later, she won all-around gold. Yet, just 11 months ago, doctors didn’t think she’d ever do gymnastics again due to a kidney disease diagnosis.
“There were so many times where I felt like quitting,” she said last month.
The Americans are lucky she never did. She fought through some small mistakes to a team-high 14.566 on bars, securing first after two rotations. She later helped lift Jordan Chiles after she fell off the beam, with a near-flawless performance and a huge 14.600 score — .577 above her qualifying score.
Carey, 24, was at the Tokyo Games but not officially a member of Team USA or a participant in the team competition. She qualified for those Games through a now-closed system where she competed around the world and racked up enough points to gain entry outside of making the traditional five-person American team. She couldn’t compete in the team event or even wear the same leotards as the official Team USA members such as Biles, Lee, and Chiles.
She won an individual gold in floor anyway, justifying her presence and talent. The team event holds a special place for American gymnasts. After taking a break from the international level of the sport and starring at Oregon State, Carey built herself back up to make it here.
