Simone Biles admits she had ‘something to prove’ at the 2024 Paris Olympics after ‘twisties’ sent her home from Tokyo

Simone Biles was missing in Tokyo but was found tonight in Paris, where she was once again named Olympic Golden Girl.

After struggling with the ‘turns’ in Japan, she was back to her best on Tuesday, leading Team US to gold.

The U.S. women’s gymnastics team took gold in the team competition here with a score of 171.296, blowing away their opponents by 5.802 points over second-placed Italy. Brazil took bronze.

The US led the entire game and never looked like they would be defeated. Once the gold was in, chants of “USA, USA” filled Barcy Arena.

Film director Spike Lee clearly agreed that Simone should have it, waving his fists in jubilation. Sitting nearby were Natalie Portman, Jane Fonda and former Olympic champion Serena Williams.

Biles is pictured after winning her fifth Olympic gold medal at age 27

The US took the top score on all four rotations and returned to the Olympic champs, having to settle for silver in Japan after Simone withdrew due to stress.

The Americans previously won team gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and have won every team world championship since 2011.

Simone said the pressure was different tonight, but her experience helped her cope with it.

‘In 2016, our goal was to win gold and everyone said that was our goal, so whenever we went out on the field, we did our job and won gold.

“We were a bit young and naive, so it didn’t really catch on like it does now. Now that I’m a lot older and we have so much more experience, we’re really having fun here and enjoying what we do.

“So I think it’s just different and that’s not to say I wasn’t shocked that we won because it was still super surprising, my first gold medal ever. It was so exciting. But I think the pressure was so high that we wanted to win gold, so we just did what we had to do.

“Even tonight we just did what we had to do, but it just felt a little different. It was super exciting, we had fun out there and we just did our gymnastics.

Simone added: ‘We’re super excited. We feel honored to represent the US any time we’re on a world stage, but to get that gold and that goal was just an amazing feeling.

‘I think we all had something to prove with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and we did that tonight.

“It means the world. That was our goal when we started it, even though we didn’t share it with everybody because it was just something personal that we were working on. But I think for everybody, it’s what we came here for. And we’re super excited to come home with that gold medal.

Joran Chiles said, “We’ve all been working hard, both in and out of the gym. Whether it’s mentally or physically. This team is just so great. I’m so proud of them. There are things within ourselves that we’re going to take care of. From that moment on, we’ve achieved great things.”

Teammate Sunisa Lee added that congratulating Simone was one of the first things she did after securing the gold.

“I think I speak for everyone when I say we are all so proud and happy for Simone. I went to her and said, ‘You did it.'”

Hezly Riverra, who won gold at her first Olympics, said: “It’s such an amazing experience. I can’t believe I’m here. Winning a gold medal is all I’ve ever wanted, so this is just such an amazing experience.

“I’m so happy and excited for this team. We all put in the work, we worked hard, mentally and physically, to be here.”