By Ashlee Buhler

Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade has won many titles in her career, but never has she won an Olympic gold medal on floor – knocking the 7-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles to second place.

Andrade now has six Olympic medals, making her the most decorated Brazilian Olympian in history, surpassing sailors Robert Scheidt and Torben Grael.

American Jordan Chiles had originally finished fifth, but a last-second inquiry bumped her score by one tenth to give her the bronze (13.766) over Romania’s Ana Barbosu (13.700). This is the first individual Olympic medal of Chiles career.

SEE MORE: How did Jordan Chiles win bronze in women’s gymnastics floor final?

While on the medal podium, Biles and Chiles bowed down to Andrade – a moment that has sparked a lot of attention on social media. Both athletes spoke highly of Andrade and said she deserved the recognition.

“First off, it was an all-Black podium. Second off, why don’t we just give her her flowers?” Chiles said after the competition. “Not only has she given Simone her flowers, but a lot of us in the United States. So giving it back it what makes it so beautiful. I felt like it was needed.”

Regardless of the result of the floor exercise final, Biles’ performance in Paris has further cemented her place in the history books. She concludes her third Olympic Games with 11 Olympic medals, seven of which are gold.

“I’ve accomplished way more than my wildest dreams – not just at this Olympics but in the sport. So I can’t be mad at my performances,” Biles said after the competition. “A couple of years ago I didn’t think I’d be back here at an Olympic Games, so competing and then walking away with four medals – I’m not mad about it. I’m pretty proud of myself.”

Biles hasn’t ruled out the possibility of going for LA 2028, but if Paris 2024 turns out to be her final competition, she’ll leave an irreplaceable mark in all of sports history with 41 world and Olympic medals.

RESULTS

SEE MORE: Simone Biles ends Paris Olympics with silver on floor

The skill in question for Chiles was a tour jete full – split leap followed by a full spin on the way down. Chiles did not receive credit for the full spin in the qualification round and initially did not receive credit for it in the final either.

Chiles’ coaches thought she performed the skill better than in qualifications and put in an inquiry for the judges to re-evaluate the skill.

“I was not confident but, what do you have to lose?” Chiles’ coach Cecile Landi said afterward. “She was off of the podium already … I had the same angle as the judges, and I felt it was way better than all the meets that she’s done. So, what the heck. You might as well try it, you know?”

After evaluation, the judges gave Chiles credit for the skill, which ultimately raised her score by 1 tenth of a point, which was enough to move her into bronze medal position.

“I’m on cloud nine,” Chiles said. “This is my first-ever (Olympic) individual event final, at my second Olympics. I have no words. Coming out with a medal… that was my goal, but that inquiry went in, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t know what will happen. Will I go up or down?’ So I’m very happy where I’m at right now. This medal means everything to me. This is beyond words. I’m so proud of myself.”

SEE MORE: Last-second inquiry propels Jordan Chiles to bronze

Source: wralsportsfan.com