Olympics gymnastics latest: Simone Biles becomes oldest women’s gymnastics champ since 1952

Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the women’s artistic gymnastics team finals round at Bercy Arena

Simone Biles holds off Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade in all-around, becomes oldest Olympic women’s gymnastics champ since 1952

Simone Biles, fresh off leading the U.S. women’s gymnastics team back to the gold medal in team competition, is back on the mat today for the Paris Olympics all-around finals. The 27-year-old is attempting to become the oldest women’s all-around champion since 1952, taking on a field that includes Brazilian star Rebeca Andrade and defending Olympic champion Sunisa Lee.
Biles uses signature skill to vault ahead
Biles brought out the Yurchenko double pike vault after passing on doing one during the team final to protect her tender left calf.

Biles is the only woman to ever complete the vault in competition and it carries her name in the sport’s Code of Points. The move requires her to do a roundoff back handspring onto the vaulting table, followed by two back flips while clasping her legs.
She took a sizable step back on her dismount but otherwise kept it under control.
Biles scores 15.766 on vault
Biles is off and running in her quest for another Olympic all-around title. Her score on the vault: 15.766.
It’s a significant lead over Andrade’s 15.100 already, with three events left for both.
Andrade saves new skill for another day, still shines on vault
There was speculation Andrade could attempt a Yurchenko triple twist during the final.
The Brazilian gymnast submitted the vault to be named after her in the sport’s Code of Points. She has performed it at training but did not try it the all-around. She instead opted for a difficult Cheng that earned her 15.100 points. It was nearly flawless.
She will have another chance to perform the Yurchenko triple twist in the vault final next week. If she succeeds, the vault would be the first skill named after Andrade.
Sunisa Lee’s score on vault: 13.933
The defending Olympic all-around champion is behind her Tokyo pace at the start.
Sunisa Lee was the first athlete on the vault, and the 21-year-old American who won the title at the Tokyo Games three years ago took a bit of a hop on the landing. Her score was 13.933.
Her score on the vault in the Tokyo all-around: 14.600.
Biles and Lee aren’t the only Americans out here
Biles and Lee aren’t the only American women in the all-around final.
Luisa Blanco, a Texas native and recent Alabama graduate, made the final while competing for Colombia. Blanco’s parents are Colombian and she obtained dual citizenship over the last year.
She began competing for Colombia last fall and her performance at the Pan American Games helped her earn a spot under the rings.