gymnastics

Biles, Raisman Soar to 1-2 Finish In All-Around

Raisman gets silver four years after missing a medal due to a tiebreaker

Simone Biles was spectacular under pressure, earning a gold medal with a stylish, soaring floor routine that left no doubt she is the best in the world.

She added the individual all-around medal on Thursday to her gold in the team competition and gave the United States a fourth straight victory in the event.

Biles led the United States to a gold in the team event on Tuesday, and still has individual medals in her sights on floor exercise, balance beam and vault.

Aly Raisman came back with a strong beam routine and floor exercise to win silver ahead of Russia’s Aliya Mustafina, the 2012 bronze medalist.

Four years ago, Raisman tied Mustafina for third place but missed out on the medal due to a tiebreaker.

When she finished a flawless routine on Thursday, the crowed roared its approval and a tearful Raisman waved and blew kisses. She had the day’s highest score for a couple of minutes, until Biles put the finishing touches on her floor routine.

Russia’s Aliya Mustafina got bronze.

Biles actually trailed Mustafina after two rotations — by 0.034 points. Then she landed a 14.966 on balance beam while Mustafina scored more than a point less. When Mustafina’s floor exercise returned less than 14, Biles had it all but sealed.

The last time there wasn’t an American atop the all-around podium was the calamitous 2000 Sydney Games. After that, Martha Karolyi was put in charge of the sport, and the national team coordinator is set to retire with the USA on top of the world in women’s gymnastics.

They’ve won two straight team gold medals and now four in a row in the all-around.

Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas — and now Simone Biles.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us