Team USA star Simone Biles won gold in the women’s vault on Saturday, adding to her stunning return to gymnastics’ highest stage.
Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who also finished second to Biles in the all-around, won silver.
Fellow American Jade Carey won bronze after a devastating mistake in Tokyo cost her a chance at a medal in the event.
The United States has had a remarkable performance in gymnastics so far at the Paris Games. The U.S. women’s gymnastics team won gold in the team all-around final on Tuesday, followed by gold for Biles and bronze for Suni Lee in the individual all-around competition on Thursday.
Simone Biles of the United States competes in the women’s vault final in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 3, 2024.
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Simone Biles of the United States competes in the women’s vault final in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 3, 2024.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
After falling backwards in her warm-up on her Yurchenko double pike – officially known as the Biles II – she managed to recover during the competition. She scored 15.700, the only blemish being her foot slightly out of bounds.
On her second jump, she scored 14.900, giving her an average of 15.300.
Simone Biles of the United States competes in the women’s vault final in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 3, 2024.
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Simone Biles of the United States enters the arena before the women’s vault final in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 3, 2024.
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Andrade went after Biles knowing she would have a hard time matching Biles because of the starting values of her vaults. Still, Andrade landed her first vault for a score of 15.100 and her second for a score of 14.833 — and an average of 14.966.
Carey was looking for redemption after tripping on an approach during the 2021 vault competition. Last in the competition on Saturday, she had two good jumps for an average score of 14.466.
Gold medalist Simone Biles of the United States hugs silver medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil after the women’s vault final in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 3, 2024.
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Gold medalist Simone Biles of the United States hugs teammate, bronze medalist Jade Carey, after the women’s vault final in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 3, 2024.
Hannah McKay/Reuters
Biles’ victory brings her Olympic medal total to 10, including three at the Paris Games.
Biles won her eighth Olympic medal in the team all-around on Tuesday, becoming the most decorated American gymnast in history, tied with the great Shannon Miller. She added her ninth medal in the individual all-around on Thursday.
Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade competes in the women’s vault final in artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 3, 2024.
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The victory is a redemption for Biles, who lost to Andrade in the vault competition at the world championships last year when she fell backward on her first attempt.
Biles also won gold in the vault final in Rio in 2016. Andrade won the vault in Tokyo when Biles withdrew from competition.
