Despite Early Struggles and Tougher Opposition, Biles Still Aims for Olympic Gold
A rumour has been circulating in Tokyo about Simone Biles not being as flawless as expected during her first appearance at these Olympics. On Sunday, Biles made a few uncharacteristic errors, including stepping off the mat after her vault and struggling with her beam dismount, requiring three attempts to stick the landing. “Simone took three big steps on the beam dismount, I’ve never seen her do that before,” said US performance director Tom Forster. For the first time in over a decade, the United States women’s gymnastics team did not enter a major team final as the leaders, with the Russian Olympic Committee taking that spot.
While the media had predicted Biles might take home six golds, this ambitious goal now appears more uncertain. The field of competitors has become increasingly competitive, partly due to the rise of other strong programs like Russia’s, with 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova emerging as a serious contender.
Biles, however, still aims for a historic achievement. While six golds were always a lofty expectation, winning five would make her the first female gymnast to achieve this feat at an Olympics, following in the footsteps of Vitaly Scherbo, who won six in 1992.
