NEW DELHI: American star Simone Biles clinched her sixth Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games on Thursday, reaffirming her status as the top all-around gymnast.
The victory comes three years after Biles withdrew from the same final at the Tokyo Games.
Biles faced a tight competition with Brazil's Rebeca Andrade but emerged victorious with a total score of 59.131 points, narrowly edging out her Brazilian rival by 1.199 points.
Biles initially trailed in third place following a flawed performance on the uneven bars. However, she made a strong comeback with a solid routine on the balance beam.
Understanding that the gold was within reach if she avoided any unexpected errors, Biles executed an electrifying floor routine to secure her victory.
Andrade earned a second successive silver in the competition, demonstrating her skills across all four women's apparatus.
Biles' teammate Sunisa Lee, the Tokyo all-around champion, overcame a disappointing start on the vault to claim the bronze with a score of 56.465 points.
Biles' triumph in Paris marks her second gold medal in the Games and her second all-around Olympic title, following her individual event win in Rio in 2016.
Earlier this week, she also secured a team gold medal.
Biles is now the most decorated gymnast of all time. Her withdrawal from the Tokyo event was a significant moment, as she chose to prioritize her mental health due to the 'twisties', a condition where gymnasts suffer from a temporary loss of spatial awareness during high-difficulty elements.
Her decision to withdraw in Tokyo had raised concerns among her fans about whether she would compete on the Olympic stage again.
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