Simone Biles Wins Gold in Women's All-Around at 2024 Paris Olympics

Paris, France – August 1, 2024: Simone Biles (USA) performs in the floor exercise during the women's all-around final in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena.

Credit: A.RICARDO

By: Joshua Martin

On Thursday (August 1st) Simone Biles came in first place, earning the gold medal in a highly competitive women’s gymnastics all-around finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Biles edged out Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade by just over a point, one of the closest finishes she has ever experienced in any international event.  

With her victory, the 27-year-old became the oldest woman to win the all-around finals since the first-ever Olympic all-around in Melbourne in 1952. Additionally, Miles joins Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union and Vera Caslavska of Czechoslovakia as the only women to become two-time Olympic champions.  

Paris, France – August 1, 2024: Simone Biles (USA) competes in the floor exercise during the women's all-around final in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, held at Bercy Arena in Paris, France.

Credit: A.RICARDO

“I just go out here and do what I’m supposed to and I’m doing what I love and enjoying it. So that’s really all that matters to me. Yes, it’s amazing now that I hear it, but I don’t think I’ll truly understand the depth of it until I walk away from the sport.”

— Simone Biles, ESPN

Earlier this week, Biles became the most decorated American gymnast in the history of the Olympics after she earned her eighth Olympic medal with Team USA. An historic feat, she currently sits as the most decorated gymnast in history from any country if you include world championship medals. 

Check out her award winning performance below:

Stop what you’re doing right NOW and watch Simone Biles on floor! 🐐 #ParisOlympics

📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/yAKPJ9PVEh

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 1, 2024

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Simone Biles Makes History with Eighth U.S. National All-Around Gymnastics Title

On August 27, 2023, at the SAP Center, Simone Biles exults in her victory, taking the top spot in the floor exercise competition during day four of the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. PHOTO: EZRA SHAW/GETTY

By: Adonis Armstrong

For years, Simone Biles has garnered praise from fans, with many hailing her as the ultimate champion. Once more, she demonstrated her worthiness of that accolade at the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, held on Sunday August 27th in San Jose, California. She secured three titles, Biles achieved the distinction of becoming the oldest woman to conquer the all-around category. Also, she etched her name in history as the inaugural gymnast to claim a total of eight U.S. all-around titles.

Dominating the competition, the athlete clinched the gold for her remarkable performances in both the balance beam and floor exercises. Her overall two-day score of 118.45 showcased her prowess, with impressive scores of 29.300 on the balance beam, 30.200 on the floor, 28.400 on uneven bars, and 30.550 on vault. Adding to her victories, she secured a bronze medal for her exceptional uneven bars routine, as reported by GMA.

Since her debut in 2013, Biles has amassed an impressive collection of 27 U.S. titles and 35 medals from national championships. With seven Olympic medals to her name, including the title of 2016 Olympic individual all-around champion, her achievements are nothing short of remarkable. In 2021, Biles made headlines when she chose to prioritize her mental health during the Tokyo Olympics, withdrawing from both the team and individual all-around gymnastics events. This decision was prompted by a moment during the vaulting competition where she felt disoriented while mid-air.

At the age of 26, the athlete previously held an all-around national championship record jointly with Alfred Jochim, who secured seven men's titles spanning 1925 to 1930 and 1933. However, her recent victory has propelled her to surpass this 90-year-old record.

The 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, however, left spectators amazed by her prowess. As she concluded the floor exercise during the final rotation, the gymnast earned a standing ovation from the audience of nearly 12,000, serving as a powerful reminder that she is still widely regarded as the Greatest of All Time.

Following the competition, Biles received an invitation to become a member of the USA Gymnastics 2023-’24 Senior Women’s National Team.

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Simone Biles Makes a Dominant Return to Gymnastics with Three Gold Medals

Simone Biles showcases her floor exercise routine at the U.S. Classic in Hoffman Estates, Ill. on Saturday August 5, 2023. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

By: Adonis Armstrong

Simone Biles made a triumphant return to competitive gymnastics at the U.S. Classic, also known as the Core Hydration Classic in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, marking her first competition since the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where she took a bronze medal in the beam event before withdrawing from the Team All-Around due to the "Twisties." After the tournament, Biles announced an extended hiatus from competition.

"After everything that transpired in Tokyo, the amount of outpouring of love and support that I had on Twitter, on Instagram and in the arena was just really shocking and surprising to me that they still have so much belief in me," Biles stated. "They still love me, and it just makes my heart warm. Especially in a time like this where I was really nervous to compete again."

Over the weekend, Simone Biles made her much-anticipated return to competition after the Tokyo Olympics. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

On the August 4 training day, Biles opted not to engage with the media, but she greeted fans warmly, displaying a positive demeanor while joking with her teammates. The US Classic acts as the decisive qualifier for the upcoming US Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, later this month. Biles' long-term aspiration appears to be rejoining the US Olympic Team, aiming for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, scheduled to occur less than a year from today. Despite her two-year absence from the sport, Biles showcased her dominance in the competition without delay.

SIMONE. FREAKING. BILESpic.twitter.com/FkKj6p4ha3

— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 6, 2023

Biles emerged from the event with an impressive haul of four medals – three gold and one bronze. Throughout the proceedings on August 5, she demonstrated that her time away from the sport had minimal impact on her skills, securing the All-Around gold by a amazing 5-point margin, a significant achievement in a sport where small differences matter. She also claimed gold medals in the beam and floor events and earned a bronze in the uneven bars. Looking ahead, Biles will focus on the upcoming US Championships, taking place later this month. Biles is likely to participate in the World Championships in Belgium at the end of September.

"I think the night went really well," following the meet, Biles expressed her thoughts. "Everything has fallen into place. I feel really good about where I am right now, mentally and physically. There are some things to work on in my routines, but for the first meet back, I would say it went pretty well. I'm very shocked and surprised."

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Fisk University Is Making History With HBCU Gymnastics Program

Fisk Gymnastics

By: Adonis Armstrong

Jordynn Cromartie entered her senior year of high school going through a tough decision; a decision many other Black gymnasts have been struggling with for years. The Houston native wanted to go to a predominantly Black college or university, and she wanted to continue to play the sport she loves and committed her whole life to.

Cromartie had one issue; she knew it was a strong possibility she couldn’t do both. While talking to her Uncle during Thanksgiving, Frank Simmons, who is on the Board of Trustees at Fisk University, Cromartie discussed her concerns about going to Fisk, which is a private HBCU located in Nashville, Tennessee with around 1,000 students.

“He and my aunt were like, ‘Oh you haven’t made a decision, you should come to Fisk,’” Cromartie said. “I’m like, ‘Well, they don’t have a gymnastics team.’ To go to a college that doesn’t have what I would be working for forever was crazy to me.” Simmons gave her some hope by saying, “I’ll make it happen.”

Within the span of many weeks, Simmons connected with the founder of Atlanta based, Brown Girls Do Gymnastics owner, Derrin Moore, who has been attempting to drum up support for gymnastics at an HBCU, specifically with Fisk trustees. One trustee was very in tune with Moore’s pitch and generously donated $100,000 if Fisk would adopt the sport.

Fisk University will make history Friday afternoon in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena becoming the first HBCU to participate in an NCAA women’s gymnastics meet. The Bulldogs are set to compete against Southern Utah, Washington, and North Carolina as part of the inaugural Super 16, an event that includes some tough perennial NCAA powerhouses like Oklahoma, Michigan, and UCLA.

With the emergence and popularity of Olympic champions Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles, the face of gymnastics has been changing. It started with the help of Biles winning in 2012, becoming the first Black woman to win Olympic gold.

Hopefully, in the future more HBCUs will follow in the footsteps of Fisk University and get out of their comfort zones and help expand the opportunity for athletes to choose the legacy with the opportunity to do what they love.

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Tokyo Olympics: 4 Black Women Who Are Chasing Gold Medals

Sha’Carri Richardson and Simone Biles look to dominate at the Tokyo Olympics

By: Cory Utsey

The once-postponed yet highly anticipated Tokyo Summer Olympics officially commence on Friday, July 23. This means that the Olympic trials are in full effect, and American athletes are competing to be a part of the anticipated 600 qualifiers being sent to Tokyo. 

It is already clear that there will likely be a number of Black athletes competing for the gold-- especially Black women.

Here are four of the Black women athletes expected to dominate the Summer Olympics.

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Sha’Carri Richardson - Track and Field

Sha'Carri Richardson celebrates after winning the first heat of the semifinals in the women's 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on Saturday in Eugene, Ore.

Associated Press photo by Ashley Landis

The 21-year-old Dallas native first came to prominence in 2019. A freshman at Louisiana State University at the time, she ran 10.75 seconds and broke the 100 meter record at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships, winning her the NCAA title. 

Despite losing her mother just days before the U.S Olympic Track and Field trials, she secured her spot in Tokyo on Juneteenth by running 10.86 seconds for the women’s 100 meter event. Immediately running to embrace her grandmother following her success, the bright-haired beauty warmed the hearts of many.

Richardson continues to trend, not only for her immense success on the field, but for her confident candor off the field. Letting everyone know that she is “that girl”, many are excited to see her compete on Team USA Track and Field.

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Simone Manuel - Swimming

Simone Manuel - Getty Images

At the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, Manuel became the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal, and she will now be competing in the 50 meter freestyle.

The trailblazer revealed that she was recently diagnosed with overtraining syndrome (OTS), a form of burnout which causes fatigue and temporarily declines the performance of athletes despite intense training. Experiencing symptoms such as anxiety and sore muscles, she was forced to take a three-week hiatus from training.

Fortunately, none of these tribulations stopped her from securing her spot on Team USA Swimming. 

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Allyson Felix - Track and Field

Allyson Felix at the Olympic Trials

Credit: Ashley Landis/Associated Press

Felix has nine Olympic medals-- enough said. 

After qualifying for the 400 meter event, she will compete in her 5th olympics. Felix is currently the most decorated Olympic runner in U.S. history.

This three-time World Champion is expected to make great strides, regardless of which event she competes in.

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Simone Biles - Gymnastics

Simone Biles competing in the floor exercise during the 2021 Olympic Trials

Credit: Carmen Mandato/ Getty Images

The five-time Olympic medalist is set to compete once again at the Olympics.

Known as one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world-- third to be exact-- USA Today reports that she already secured the all-around title at the U.S Gymnastics Championships.

There is very little doubt that she will be anything less than extraordinary.

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