Around 15,000 pairs of eyes and countless camera lenses are focused on Simone Biles: At the end of the team competition, the superstar is alone on the podium and her floor exercise rounds off a brilliant performance by the US team at the Olympic Games in Paris. Three years after her partial withdrawal in Tokyo due to mental problems, the 27-year-old Biles celebrated a triumphant return to the Olympic gymnastics stage with her fifth gold.

The USA team dominated the team all-around competition from the start and won convincingly with 171.296 points. This gave the US team, consisting of Biles, Hezly Rivera, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Jade Carey, a lead of 5.502 points over silver medal winner Italy (165.494). Brazil came in third (164.497).

If everything goes according to plan, Biles can celebrate four more Olympic victories in Paris. In the all-around competition with a lead of more than 3.5 points, as well as on vault and floor, she was the undisputed best in the qualification. On the balance beam, only the Chinese Zhou Yaqin was just ahead of her. If she succeeds in doing this, she would catch up with the most successful Olympic gymnast to date, Larissa Latynina (USSR), in terms of gold medals.

Biles gets off to an early start

“Whenever she did gymnastics, it got incredibly loud. You could tell that you were doing gymnastics at the same time as her, which was a nice feeling,” said German all-around champion Helen Kevric about her experiences in the qualification. Biles had already attracted a crowd of celebrities at the eliminations last Sunday: Hollywood star Tom Cruise, rapper Snoop Dogg and singers Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande were in the VIP box at the Bercy Arena.

Before the first decision in the women’s competition, Simone Biles got off to a premature start. When the teams were introduced, she ran towards the first apparatus before the names of the gymnasts had been called. A little embarrassed, she hurried back laughing and with her hand over her mouth – and was then enthusiastically cheered by the spectators in the packed stands during her introduction.

Biles performs with bandaged calf in front of celebrities

After the qualification, questions arose about Biles’ fitness. She performed the last two apparatuses limping and with a tightly bandaged foot. US coach Cecile Landi later spoke of an unspecified calf injury that had been bothering her for several weeks.

However, it was not a handicap. The exceptional gymnast competed with a bandaged calf and did not perform her “Biles II”, the most difficult jump in women’s gymnastics. In front of star director Spike Lee, Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt, Oscar winner Natalie Portman and tennis icon Serena Williams, the athlete, who is only 1.42 meters tall, still thrilled the audience with 14,900 points. There were no noticeable limitations during the run-up.

Biles sends a kiss to the camera

Three years after mental problems ruined most of her medal chances at the Tokyo Olympics, Biles appeared more relaxed and at ease than ever in Paris. After her performance on the uneven bars and 14.400 points, she blew a kiss into the camera. The team was cheered on with chants of “USA, USA”.

Biles and her fellow competitors Hezly Rivera, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Jade Carey outshone throughout the entire competition, already leading European champions Italy by more than three points after two apparatuses. Thanks to Biles’ 14.366 points on beam, they extended their lead and celebrated a dominant victory.