Bryan Armen Graham was lucky enough to be there to witness greatness. Here’s his report.
Thanks for following along today. See you tomorrow for some soccer.
The other medalists …
Italy simply didn’t make mistakes. Through two rotations, they had no score lower than 13.933. They didn’t do as well on the floor, but they just had to get through without a major issue to clinch a spot on the podium. Alice D’Amato went on all four apparatuses, with scores ranging from 13.466 on floor to a breathtaking 14.633 on uneven bars.
Brazil was bailed out by the brilliance of Rebeca Andrade. She had a 14.533 on uneven bars. Then 14.133 on beam. A 14.200. To finish, just a 15.100 on vault. She bested Biles on vault and uneven bars – though, remember, Biles didn’t attempt her most difficult vault, and uneven bars really aren’t her thing.
So, so close for Team GB. Their lowest score was Becky Downie’s 12.933 on beam. Downie also posted their best score – 14.933 on uneven bars, which bodes well for her chances in the apparatus final. But their next highest score was 14.000 by Alice Kinsella, also on bars. They did the best they could with the routines they had, but they just don’t have the explosive power of a Biles or an Andrade.
Updated
