Simone Biles claimed the seventh gold medal of her historic Olympic career on Saturday with her victory in the vault final.
In front of a star-studded crowd that included actor John Travolta, track star Allyson Felix, artists Pharrell and Flavor Flav, her teammates and her parents, the 27-year-old gymnast averaged 15.3 on her signature Yurchenko double peak and Cheng vaults to claim her second gold medal in the event, eight years after winning it in Rio.
That means Biles, already the most decorated gymnast in history, now becomes only the second woman to win two vault titles, after Vera Casalavska of Czechoslovakia (1984 and 1968).
The American has now won three gold medals in Paris, having already secured victory in the team final and the individual all-around competition. Her teammate Jade Carey took bronze, while Brazil’s Rebecca Andrade took silver.
Biles now has 10 career Olympic medals, tied for the third most by a female gymnast. She also increased her medal count at major international competitions to 40, the most by a gymnast.
Gymnastics legend Simone Biles took victory in the vault final in Paris on Saturday
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