The third time was definitely a charm. Simone Biles took home her third Olympic gold medal at the Rio Olympics on Sunday, August 14, for the vault event, just one week after making headlines for two huge wins.
“There is a lot of satisfaction that I have a winning gold on vault, finally,” she told Us Weekly. “And I’m just superexcited because I was able to upgrade my second vault and it’s exactly what I needed to do, so I’m very excited.”
The 19-year-old athlete scored 15.900 for her first vault and 16.033 for her second, averaging 15.966 for the top spot. Russia’s Maria Paseka scored 15.253 to take home a second-place finish, one year after being named the 2015 world champion on vault.
The third-place competitor, Switzerland’s Giulia Steingruber, scored 15.216, making her the country’s first female gymnast ever to win an Olympic medal.
Biles was all smiles as she waited her turn to get a medal at the ceremony and both Laurie Hernandez and Aly Raisman jumped out of their seats to clap for her.
The teen’s win is the latest in string of victories that has made her this Olympics’ most unstoppable athlete. The Texas native took home the gold for the women’s individual all-around on Thursday, August 11, gaining her fans far and wide.
“Hey @Simone_Biles! @imarleneking wants you & the #FinalFive to come to PLL set when you get back – are you in?” Pretty Little Liar’s Twitter account read shortly after Biles won the event.
Biles, a self-confessed fan of the hit series, could hardly contain her excitement in her response: “YES X27238833,” Biles tweeted.
The gymnast’s celebrity crush, Zac Efron, has even been tweeting her words of support and congratulations through all her events, sending the teen into a flurry of giddiness.
After Biles revealed that she has a life-size cutout of Efron, 28, in her room, the Neighbors 2 star sent her well wishes.
“OH MY GOSH I THINK I AM GOING TO PASS OUT OH MY GOSH CRYING!” Biles replied. “THANK YOU.”
On Sunday, Biles’ teammate and veteran Olympian Gabby Douglas got knocked out of the uneven-bars medal contention. Biles has the chance to win two more medals when she competes in the balance-beam competition on Monday, and the floor exercise on Tuesday.
Christina Garibaldi and Ian Drew discussed all the latest during Us Weekly‘s Facebook Live News Update. Check it out!
