Oregon State rising senior Jade Carey, UCLA rising junior Jordan Chiles and former Auburn gymnast Sunisa Lee clinched the gold medal for Team USA alongside Simone Biles, who’s now the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history, and five-star recruit Hezly Rivera. Carey, who dealt with illness earlier in the week, competed only on vault, where she performed a solid Cheng. Lee competed on bars, beam, and floor, posting the team’s highest scores on the first two of her events. Chiles performed in the all-around and had a near-flawless performance, except for a fall on her beam mount. This is Chiles’ first gold medal and Carey’s and Lee’s second.
The U.S. edged Italy, which won its first team medal since 1928, and Brazil, which narrowly defeated Great Britain to earn its first ever team medal at the Olympics.
Iowa’s incoming freshmen Aurélie Tran and Cassie Lee, Minnesota incoming freshman Ava Stewart, and Alabama alumna Shallon Olsen, together with veteran Ellie Black, helped Canada to a fifth-place finish. Tran contributed on bars and floor, Lee on beam and floor, Stewart on vault, bars, and beam, and Olsen posted the team’s highest score on vault.
Michigan State commit Lilia Cosman helped Romania finish in seventh position behind China and ahead of Japan. She competed a Yurchenko one and a half on vault and a solid bar routine.
Women’s gymnasts will reconvene in the Bercy Arena on Thursday, Aug. 1, for the all-around final, which will feature Lee for the U.S., Stewart for Canada, and Alabama alumna Luisa Blanco for Colombia.
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Article by Talitha Ilacqua
