Jul 27, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; Sunisa Lee (USA) reacts with Simone Biles (USA) in the women's team final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Suni Lee won the Tokyo Olympics all-around title Thursday with teammate and 2016 gold medalist Simone Biles cheering from the stands.
Lee brightened the week for the American gymnasts, who settled for silver in the team event as the spotlight shifted to Biles’ decision to withdraw from the majority of the team competition and Thursday’s all-around. Biles could still participate in three individual events next week.
Lee, 18, finished with a score of 57.433, 0.135 ahead of Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who was favored to win gold following Biles’ decision not to participate.
Lee trimmed Andrade’s lead after the vault with a 15.3 on a flawless uneven bars performance, showing no signs of the Achilles issue that had bothered her since 2019.
With Biles dancing and clapping from the stands, Lee overtook Andrade on the balance beam.
Russia’s Angelina Melnikova won the bronze medal.
Lee became the fifth straight American woman to win the Olympics all-around gold medal, following defending champion Biles, Gabby Douglas (2012), Nastia Liukin (2008) and Carly Patterson (2004).
–Field Level Media