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Andrade, Biles, Chiles Clean Up on Floor Exercises to Put Black Women on the All-Black Podium – Essence
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 5: Gold medalist Rebeca Andrade (C) of Team Brazil, silver medalist Simone Biles (L) of Team United States and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles (R) of Team United States have fun on the podium during the medal ceremony in the women’s artistic gymnastics free exercise on day ten of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena on August 5, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
As Issa Rae said, “We’re rooting for Black!” The finale took place this morning (afternoon in Paris) Olympic Games Paris 2024 gymnastics competition concluded at Bercy Arena, and what a dramatic ending it was. Ultimately, Brazilian Rebeca Andrade and Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles of Team USA took the top three spots, earning them the gold, silver, and bronze medals in the freestyle finals. Yes, the podium was all black women.
About an hour before the floor exercise, Andrade and Biles competed in the balance beam final. With each being clear favorites in that event, Biles’ morning began off on a rocky note when she fell on the beam. Despite Andrade’s beautiful competition, the judges still didn’t award her the points she needed for a medal.
On the floor exercise, all nine ladies had to give it their all on the mat. Biles, the 27-12 months-old GOAT gymnast, hobbled after hiccupping on her tumbling warmup on floor. Commentators wondered if she would find a way to compete at her highest level in what might be the final routine of her Olympic profession. But for those who haven’t learned your lesson yet, don’t count on Simone Biles or lose faith in what this woman can do.
Andrade competed first amongst the three winners and had an almost flawless performance, ending with a rating of 14.166. Biles was next. After getting her calf taped, she got here out and gave it her all. Despite taking two steps off the line, mostly due to the power of her tumbling, she scored a rating of 14.133. As the camera panned to her after her performance, she might be seen saying, “I think Rebecca won.”
As previously reported, these two women have been one another’s hardest rivals over the years, especially during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Motivating one another to give their all, they appear to don’t have anything but love and admiration for one another.
To finish off her final routine of the morning competition — and the Games — Jordan Chiles took to the mat. As Beyoncé’s “My House” blasted through the arena, the UCLA student-athlete got to work. Another powerful routine, she had a slight balance check on her first vault that likely cost her just a few tenths of a count. The judges got here back with a rating that might have eliminated her from medal contention, but her coaches filed an issue that ultimately moved her into the bronze position.
Looking up in excitement, Chiles jumped for joy as she saw her recent best, 13.766, which made her the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist in the free exercise. Her emotions got the higher of her, and tears flowed because it all sank in after what she had just completed.
“It’s been a long journey, it’s been a long three years,” Chiles previously told ESSENCE during the 2024 U.S. Olympic gymnastics qualifiers in Minneapolis. “I’m just proud of myself after everything I’ve been through. The hardships, the losses. I couldn’t be more proud of myself.”