Simone Biles inspired the United States to victory in the women’s team gymnastics event as the first leg of a “redemption tour” began with a fifth Olympic gold.
For the world’s most decorated gymnast it is a first Olympic gold since Rio 2016 after she pulled out of several events in Tokyo three years ago with the ‘twisties’ – a disorientating mental block.
Fellow sporting greats like Serena Williams and Michael Phelps were on their feet in the packed Arena as Biles’ floor routine sealed gold for her and team-mates Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera.
Italy took silver and Brazil claimed bronze for their first medal in the event, while Great Britain came an agonizing fourth.