Olympics gymnastics: Simone Biles wins vault for third gold medal of Paris 2024
Biles had said after winning the all-around title two days ago that facing Andrade was “stressful” as she was the only gymnast who has ever pushed her closely and joked she did not want to face her again.
There had been anticipation that Andrade might try a new skill that she has submitted – a triple-twisting Yurchenko vault that would have a difficulty value closer to Biles’ best vault – but that did not materialise.
The 25-year-old, who beat Biles on this apparatus at last year’s World Championships, performed her vaults well. She scored higher than Biles for execution on both vaults, but with difficulty values that were a full mark lower than her rival’s efforts, Andrade would only have had a chance if the American had faltered.
Biles became the third most decorated female gymnast with 10 Olympic medals and with two more finals to come on Monday – floor and beam – she can overtake second-placed Vera Caslavska, who won 11 for Czechoslovakia between 1960 and 1968. The all-time record of 18 is held by Soviet Union gymnast Larisa Latynina.
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