All-around champion Simone Biles continues to make history, winning her third Olympic gold medal for the individual vault title on Sunday. The 19-year-old Texan is the first American female gymnast to win three gold medals in a single Olympics.
According to the Los Angeles Times, in the vault final, gymnasts vault twice and the scores are averaged. On her first pass, Biles scored a 15.900, landing with a tiny step back, and on her second, she scored a 16.033 for an impressive 15.966 average score. The silver went to Russia’s Maria Paseka (15.253) and the bronze to Switzerland’s Giulia Steingruber (15.216).
Biles’ win also marks the first time an American gymnast has won a title for this particular apparatus.
According to Reuters, Biles said taking home the gold for the vault is incredibly gratifying since she’s never been able to do it at the world championships.
“It was good, I feel very excited because having gone to worlds and having two silvers and a bronze it means a lot to me … It’s something that I wanted so badly,” she stressed.
And, of course, the congrats are pouring in:
https://twitter.com/coffeebish/status/764915572350083072
https://twitter.com/MylesMcNair/status/764915383249678336
https://twitter.com/04jduke/status/764915366296510464
https://twitter.com/dorettalau/status/764915338534264832
Oh, and if you needed even more of Biles’ #BlackExcellence, peep her new Nike commercial set to the tune of Beyoncé‘s song “Jealous.”
https://twitter.com/BeyonceReigns/status/764084388556451840
Biles has two more opportunities to win an unprecedented five gold medals with the balance beam individual contest on Monday and the floor exercise on Tuesday.
We’re rooting for you, Simone! Good luck!
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times, Reuters | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty, Twitter
DON’T MISS:
Black Women Are Killing The Olympic Games In Rio
Black Girl Magic: Simone Biles Takes Home The Gold For All-Around Gymnastics Final
