American Sunisa Lee won a gold medal and took Olympic gymnastics at another level. On the other hand, Simone Biles, the defending champion watched from the stands. She withdrew herself from the tournament since she wanted to prioritise her mental health.
Sunisa Lee is an 18-year-old Olympic Debutant. She helped the USA win silver on Tuesday, finished on 57.433.
She brought in gold, while Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade won silver and Russian Angelina Melnikova bronze.
Up till now Jessica Gadirova’s record of coming at 10th position was the best result ever achieved by a British woman in the event.
Andrade’s score of 57.298 secured Brazil’s first-ever women’s gymnastics medal at the Games, while Melnikova took bronze with 57.199.
“It’s my first world ranking, so I know where I am and where I stand,” said 16-year-old Gadirova, whose twin sister Jennifer finished 13th.
“Over the years hopefully I will just grow. I’ve got a few days to rest the legs up ready for the floor final [on Monday].”
The twin girls helped Great Britain win bronze on Tuesday, creating a history. Furthermore, Jennifer might join her sister Jessica in Monday’s floor final if Biles withdraws.
Biles withdrew from the team final on Tuesday and later announced she would not compete in the all-around final either.
But still, she ardently cheered on her fellow gymnasts from the stands.
Moreover, she has yet to confirm whether she will compete in the individual apparatus finals. It will start on Sunday, and said she will take “each day as it comes”.
After she withdrew, Lee said – Biles “carried the team basically”. Despite the fact that Lee is a teenager, she has shown that she is ready to take star billing.
In June 2020, Lee broke her foot but concerns over her floor routine after the injury proved unfounded as the American’s score of 13.700 was enough for gold in a highly competitive final.
American Cup-winning gymnast Katelyn Ohashi said – Lee had proved “she’s a real competitor”. Further, she added: “She’s followed in the footsteps of Simone.”
Whereas Brazil’s Andrade led at the halfway stage, but errors on the floor – her final apparatus – saw Lee pip her to gold.
