2024 Olympics: Simone Biles Edges Out Rebeca Andrade for Gold in Women's Vault

Simone Biles won gold during the Aug. 3 women’s gymnastics individual vault final at the 2024 Olympics, ahead of Rebeca Andrade and Jade Carey.

By Brahmjot Kaur Aug 03, 2024 3:51 PM
| Updated Aug 05, 2024 10:00 AM
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Watch: Olympics: Simone Biles Wins 10th Olympic Medal Beating Rebeca Andrade for Gold in Vault

The podium is calling Simone Biles once again.

Days after facing off against Rebeca Andrade in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the duo competed against one another in the vault final Aug. 3 with Simone coming out on top for the gold. Rebeca followed behind with silver and Jade Carey, the other gymnast representing Team USA, finished with bronze. 

Going into the final, Simone, 27—who became the first American to win gold twice in the individual all-around—was the top qualifier. During the event, she proved to the audience why vault is her strongest apparatus, completing her two vaults with a commanding combined score of 15.300. 

Rebeca, meanwhile, ended with 14.966 and Jade with 14.466. And the audience, which included the rest of Team USA—Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles and Hezly Rivera—as well as stars like Flavor Flav, John Travolta and Billie Jean King were captivated as the gymnasts flipped for the podium.

Plus, the family cheering section was in full swing with Simone's parents Ronald Biles and Nellie Biles showing their support as she picked up her 10th Olympic medal.

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2024 Olympics: Why Simone Biles Was "Stressing" While Competing Against Brazilian Gymnast Rebeca Andrade

While Simone has reigned as champion in her categories, Brazil’s star Rebeca has proven she has what it takes to keep up. In fact, Rebeca—who won silver in the vault at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where she became the first South American woman to make it to the podium in the event—is a force to be reckoned with.

And if it wasn’t clear before their neck and neck individual all-around final, where Rebecca finished silver ahead of Team USA’s Sunisa, and Simone can tell.  

Julian Finney/Getty Images

"I don't wanna compete with Rebeca no more—I'm tired," Simone quipped to reporters after the competition Aug. 1. "She's way too close.”

Laughing at the friendly competition, she added, “I've never had an athlete that close, so it definitely put me on my toes and it brought out the best athlete in myself."

And being considered the GOAT for a reason, Simone isn’t used to feeling concerned about her top spot. "I'm getting uncomfortable, guys," she jokingly emphasized. "I don't like that feeling—I was stressing!"

Although Rebecca and Simone are vying for the same spot on the podium, they also share a deep respect for one another.

“I’ve grown such affection for her,” Rebeca, 25, told The Washington Post, while Simone added, “I actually love competing with Rebeca. She does push me.”

In fact, the São Paulo native even remembers a moment at the world championships in 2018 after a knee injury led to a discouraging routine, when Simone shared some sweet words in private.

“She told me, ‘Don’t give up. You’re talented. And you’re going to get past this,’” she recalled. “It was such a kind moment, so affectionate, because there was no one else around.”

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