Simone Biles’ performance at the Paris Olympics was nothing short of historic. After facing a difficult time in Tokyo, where mental health struggles took center stage, Biles returned to the international stage with something to prove. Determined to silence her critics, she dazzled once more, securing three gold medals and a silver, reaffirming her status as the greatest gymnast of all time.
But what truly captured the attention of fans worldwide was her thrilling rivalry with Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade during the all-around competition.
Andrade, who took home the silver in Tokyo, arrived in Paris with a clear mission to challenge Biles at the top. Her routines were so impressive that even Biles admitted feeling the heat.
In the latest season of her Netflix documentary, Simone Biles Rising, the gymnastics legend confessed that during the all-around showdown, she genuinely thought Andrade might outshine her.
The tension was palpable, especially in the vault event, as seen in episode four of the documentary. Biles was well aware of Andrade‘s skills, particularly how much her competitor had improved.
When it was time for Andrade to take the stage, she performed a nearly flawless Cheng vault, leaving the crowd-and Biles-stunned.
Once she stuck that, I was like, ‘Oh, you gotta be kidding me.’ She’s not human,” Biles said.
When Biles stepped up, however, she delivered in classic fashion. Despite her nerves, she showed no signs of hesitation, performing her iconic Yurchenko double pike-a move that has since become synonymous with her skill and power. She nailed the routine, earning 15.766 points, which helped her secure the top spot and set the pace for the rest of the event.
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