RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Just two days after winning the gold in the women’s gymnastics final in Rio, two U.S. gymnasts set to repeat history.
Simone Biles and Aly Raisman stunned the world while leading Team USA to a gold medal on Tuesday.
However, they didn’t have time to relax before preparing for the all-around competition on Thursday.
Raisman started off on the vault, earning a 15.63 after a slight hop on the landing.
Next, Biles followed with a similar vault, earning a 15.86, which ended up being the highest scoring vault of the competition.
The ladies then moved on to the uneven bars, which was arguably the stars’ weakest apparatus throughout the Games.
Raisman finished with a 14.1 after a few minor mishaps.
Biles actually scored higher on the uneven bars during the all-around competition than when she competed in the team final, earning a 14.96.
However, those scores weren’t enough to put them in the lead.
Biles was in second place, behind Russia’s Mustafina. Raisman was in fourth place behind Russia’s Tutkhalian.
Next, the ladies moved onto the balance beam where Biles scored a 15.43, followed by a 14.86 by Raisman. Those scored moved them into first and third place, respectively.
✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/iPHNOkUj07
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 11, 2016
Break. The. Beam. pic.twitter.com/bTLRs3S7Df
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 11, 2016
Biles and Raisman are strongest on the floor exercise, which happened to be the final apparatus for both women.
Between the two, Raisman took the floor first and needed a 14.0 to pass Mustafina to take the lead.
She hit her routine beautifully, earning more than a point over what she needed to move into first place.
The moment @Aly_Raisman knew she had secured silver! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/4iiwOQGgtE
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 11, 2016
Next up, it was Simone Biles, the reigning world champion on the floor, and she needed a 13.83 to surpass her teammate for gold.
Biles routine was nearly flawless, sealing her fate on top of the podium.
GOLD for Simone! pic.twitter.com/MsKQFZbJg8
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 11, 2016
And a silver for Aly! pic.twitter.com/1bPVwuXT0u
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 11, 2016
It was a complete turnaround for Aly Raisman, who finished tied for third place in the last Olympic Games. However, a little known rule knocked her into fourth place.
Both ladies broke down in tears as they realized they were the first and second place finishers in the competition.
BRB. Crying forever. pic.twitter.com/vdHkNkzRqT
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 11, 2016
After the announcement was made, Biles took to the stage to wave at the crowd before pulling Raisman up with her.
For the first time in history, a country has earned four consecutive women’s gymnastics all-around Olympic gold medals.
Simone Biles joins the ranks of Gabby Douglas, Nastia Liukin and Carly Patterson.
For the 4th straight #Olympics, the queen of the all-around is an American. 🇺🇸
Watch @Simone_Biles tonight on @NBC! pic.twitter.com/Cc9GPb7fSE
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2016
Thursday’s final also made history, becoming just the fifth time that teammates finished first and second in the all-around.
Simone Biles wins individual all-around gold by insane 2.1 points. That's bigger than the margin of victory from 1980 to 2012—combined.
— Ben Cohen (@bzcohen) August 11, 2016
Congratulations ladies!
When dreams come true. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/xinT6o9UqR
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 11, 2016
