When Simone Biles turned samba into gold

The deets

• Women's All Around final, Rio 2016 Olympic Games
• Arena Olímpica do Rio, 11 August 2016

The background

Prior to Rio 2016, all eyes were firmly set on Simone Biles. She was America’s great hope for the Olympic Games.

Even though she was now the apple of the public’s eye, she still maintained the same love for the sport as the girl who began copying the routines of the world’s greatest gymnasts at just six years of age.

But years later, there was nothing left for her to copy. She was the must-watch athlete pushing the boundaries of the sport to new, never-before-seen levels.

Going into the Games, Biles had already won 10 gold medals across three World Championships and another one at the FIG World Cup. So it came as no surprise when she was called up for the Rio 2016 USA artistic gymnastics team.

The team had an all-star feel to it that year, with the rest of the group comprising of Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian and Aly Raisman.

Key moment

When Biles did eventually begin her first Olympic campaign, she didn’t disappoint. With her first opportunity to win a medal, she won gold in the team event.

Two days later she took part in her second final - the All Around - the event that defines the complete gymnast.

And she won. Convincingly.

Biles received a score of 62.198, topping the charts in the vault, balance beam and floor events.

During her near-perfect performance, Biles wowed the crowd with a floor routine set to Brazilian music - even going on to dance a little samba during the performance. It was impossible to take your eyes off her. She was the personification of gold.

When her teammate Aly Raisman won silver, they became only the second duo from the USA ever to achieve a one-two finish in the individual All Around final.

The outcome

By the time Rio 2016 came to an end, Biles had won another two gold medals (vault and floor) and a bronze in the balance beam.

She became the first-ever Team USA gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Olympic Games and, few would argue, Rio 2016’s brightest shining star. Her exploits also saw her chosen to be the USA’s flag bearer during the closing ceremony.

Needless to say, Biles will once again be one of the main attractions at Tokyo 2020. She has fixed her eyes on making history once again at next Summer's Games, where she could potentially add five more gold medals to her collection.

And it’s no exaggeration to think she will. After Rio, Biles continued her golden streak, winning nine World Championship golds and another at the FIG World Cup.

Will she be able to better the best of herself in Tokyo?