Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the women’s artistic gymnastics team finals round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the women’s artistic gymnastics team finals round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France.

PARIS – 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.

 

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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.

 

It’s go-time for the all-around

 

The 24 athletes have been introduced at the women’s all-around competition, with Simone Biles coming out last and to the biggest ovation, of course.

 

Biles and U.S. teammate Sunisa Lee — the reigning all-around Olympic champion — will open on vault for their first rotation.

 

We’re ready to go at the women’s all-around finals

 

Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee and the rest of the all-around finalists are on the floor.

 

How does Olympics gymnastics scoring work?

 

There are two components to Olympics gymnastics scoring: The difficulty or D-score is what a gymnast does. The execution or E-score is how well they do it.

 

Technically, there’s no limit on how high the D-score can go, but most elite routines top out between 5.4 and 6.0. Some exceptional ones can go higher — for example, Biles’ floor routine at the team finals had a 6.8 D-score.

 

The E-table is based on a 10-point system, though no perfect 10 for execution has ever been awarded anywhere since the new paradigm was introduced (Simone Biles has come close a couple of times on vault). Anything over eight is good.

 

The two scores are added together. A total of 13.0 or better is solid. Anything in the 14s is excellent and puts you in medal contention. A 15 or better (typically reserved for vault and typically reserved for Biles) and you’re pretty much assured of a gold medal.

 

During the all-around finals, each gymnast is judged on vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor, and their scores are added together. Highest total wins.

 

Rivals and friends

Biles and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade are rivals — and friends.

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

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Original Associated Press story continues below.

 

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.

 

The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

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.

 

It’s go-time for the all-around

 

The 24 athletes have been introduced at the women’s all-around competition, with Simone Biles coming out last and to the biggest ovation, of course.

 

Biles and U.S. teammate Sunisa Lee — the reigning all-around Olympic champion — will open on vault for their first rotation.

 

We’re ready to go at the women’s all-around finals

 

Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee and the rest of the all-around finalists are on the floor.

 

How does Olympics gymnastics scoring work?

 

There are two components to Olympics gymnastics scoring: The difficulty or D-score is what a gymnast does. The execution or E-score is how well they do it.

 

Technically, there’s no limit on how high the D-score can go, but most elite routines top out between 5.4 and 6.0. Some exceptional ones can go higher — for example, Biles’ floor routine at the team finals had a 6.8 D-score.

 

The E-table is based on a 10-point system, though no perfect 10 for execution has ever been awarded anywhere since the new paradigm was introduced (Simone Biles has come close a couple of times on vault). Anything over eight is good.

 

The two scores are added together. A total of 13.0 or better is solid. Anything in the 14s is excellent and puts you in medal contention. A 15 or better (typically reserved for vault and typically reserved for Biles) and you’re pretty much assured of a gold medal.

 

During the all-around finals, each gymnast is judged on vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor, and their scores are added together. Highest total wins.

 

Rivals and friends

 

Biles and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade are rivals — and friends.

 

“It’s an honor to be able to compete alongside her,” Andrade said after leading Brazil to the bronze medal in the team’s competition won by the U.S. team in Paris. “She’s a reference and a role model for the whole world of gymnastics. And also for other athletes.”

Andrade and Biles made their Olympic debut together in Rio eight years ago.

 

“To be able to watch how she competes and see how happy she is to compete, the hard work she does, it’s fantastic to witness,” the 25-year-old Andrade said. “I don’t know what will happen when she’s not around any more. I don’t even know if I’m still