Simone Biles, Suni Lee Delight Kevin Durant, Fans with Olympic All-Around Dominance
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
For the sixth Olympics in a row, USA Gymnastics has claimed gold in the women’s individual all-around.
Simone Biles, who won gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, earned her second gold in the event, while reigning champion Suni Lee claimed bronze to earn praise from athletes and coaches across the United States.
Meanwhile Biles’ husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, was in the crowd to see Biles win her ninth Olympic medal.
The individual all-around marked the second podium appearance of the week for both Biles and Lee, who helped lead Team USA to gold during Monday’s team final.
Owens wasn’t the only athlete in the crowd to see Team USA dominate the podium.
Steph Curry and other members of the USA Basketball men’s team, including Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday and Tyrese Haliburton, were also present at Bercy Arena to watch the competition.
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk was also in the crowd to see the Team USA stars add another medal to their collection.
Lee edged out Italian gymnast Alice D’Amato in order to claim the fifth Olympic medal of her career.
Meanwhile Biles has collected her sixth gold to set a new record for any men’s or women’s gymnast in U.S. Olympic history.
Both gymnasts overcame significant obstacles in order to return to the Olympic podium.
Biles’ Thursday win marked her first individual medal since withdrawing from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, while Lee has been diagnosed with multiple kidney diseases she has said made it difficult to practice.
Team USA has now claimed six straight all-around golds in individual competition, dating back to Carly Patterson’s win in 2004.
Nastia Liukin won in 2008, and Gabby Douglas claimed gold in 2012, before Biles won her first gold in 2016.
The Americans faced one of the toughest fields yet in 2024 with Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade challenging for gold and D’Amato coming within two tenths of a point from knocking Lee from the podium.
