Simone Biles’ last photo at the Olympics was a symbol of joy and the direction the sport is heading

PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles threw a pointed look across the awards podium toward Jordan Chiles.

The longtime friends and teammates on the U.S. gymnastics team knew that they had to seek out a technique to honor Brazilian star Rebeca Andrade. They just weren’t sure how.

What they got here up with after Andrade won gold in the freestyle at the end of 10 days at the Bercy Arena symbolized the state of their sport at the 2024 Games.

Where is he. And I hope where he is going.

Biles, the undisputed Greatest of All Time, and Chiles, a three-time Olympic medalist whose return to the Games was a testament to his talent and determination, got down on one knee, a show of respect for Andrade, whose excellence is a symbol of a sport that is becoming more diverse, more inclusive and, perhaps, more positive.

“It was just the right thing to do,” Biles said of the moment that soon went viral, with even the Louvre itself suggesting it may be worthy enough to be placed somewhere near the Mona Lisa.

Fittingly, the Olympic Games offered masterpieces all over the place you looked.

Biles is blissful to share the stage

Biles and the Americans capped their “Redemption Tour” by reclaiming gold in the team final. Biles banished any inner doubts that lingered after the Tokyo Games — and silenced her haters in the process — by winning her second all-around title eight years after her first.

Andrade led Brazil to its first Olympic team medal (bronze) and then added three more in individual competition, ending second to Biles in the all-around and vault, and then becoming the first woman to defeat Biles in the freestyle final.

Italy’s women won their first team medal in nearly a century. Japan staged a thrilling final-round rally on the bars to overtake rival China for gold. The Americans and “Pommel Horse Guy” Stephen Nedoroscik returned to the Olympic podium for the first time in 16 years. Carlos Yulo of the Philippines tripled his country’s total Summer Olympic gold medal haul in only 24 hours.

The good vibes were all over the place, led by Biles, who appeared to be attempting to shine her vivid highlight on the other women on the dance floor as often as possible.

That was never more obvious than on what might have been the final day of her profession. The 27-year-old’s voice might be heard as she shouted encouragement to every of the remaining balance beam finalists in an eerily quiet arena. No matter their nationality. No matter their age. No matter the rating. No matter how well she knew them.

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Later, Biles raved about Italians Alice D’Amato and Manila Esposito, who won gold and bronze on the balance beam after half the competitors — including Biles — collapsed in the arena, so still that Biles joked she could hear cellphones buzzing.

“I am incredibly excited and proud of them because now they are building the foundation (of the program) for other Italian girls,” she said.

The US Women’s National Team is breaking stereotypes

Such rules have long been in place in the U.S., but Biles, Chiles, six-time Olympic medalist Sunisa Lee and three-time Olympic medalist Jade Carey in Paris once and for all shattered the “little girls in pretty boxes” stereotype that has haunted the sport for many years.

The 4 20-year-olds — and 16-year-old Hezly Rivera — arrived in France with a rating to settle. Biles to place those strange days in Japan three years ago aside. Lee to shake off the “imposter syndrome” that also plagued her after her gold medal in Tokyo and the health problems that repeatedly pushed her to the brink of giving up. Chiles and Carey to get the Americans back on top after that they had conceded the podium to Russia.

The group met all requirements, with the U.S. winning eight of a possible 18 medals, including 4 for Biles, which increased her Olympic tally to 11, tied for the second-most medals by a female gymnast in the history of the event.

But just as necessary as the results was the process they went through to get there. There was pressure, but there was also joy in abundance for the oldest team the U.S. has ever delivered to the Games, a team that has dubbed itself “The Golden Girls.”

“It was so much fun,” Carey said. “And I think so many people saw it, we just had fun. And I think that brings out the best in us as gymnasts.”

‘We did it’

Ten years ago, the 4 heads would have retired while the next wave of wunderkinds got here along. It says something about the rapidly changing demographics of the court and the growing interest in women’s gymnastics that none of them — including Biles — have made any firm decisions about their futures.

Biles opened the door to Los Angeles 2028 by saying over the weekend, “never say never.” Lee, who is just 21, needs time to weigh her options. Carey and Chiles will join Biles on her post-Olympic tour and still have college eligibility.

No one is in a hurry. Biles specifically. She scolded the media for pushing the future so soon after the most vital moment in an athlete’s life. For a very long time — too long, looking back — she focused on what would come next.

Not anymore. She was going to savor her third Olympics. Enjoy them. And she did, from that first pressure-packed rotation in qualifying to that moment with Chiles and Andrade, when the last weight she had carried for years lifted from her shoulders, perhaps for good.

“There’s nothing left,” Biles said. “We did our job, you know what I mean? So, yeah, it was tough, but we got through it.”