PARIS – You could hear a pin drop at Bercy Arena.
Simone Biles had just made a crucial mistake on the uneven bars, placing her behind Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade heading into the second half of the women’s all-around competition.
Moments later, Biles overcame her mistake with a near-perfect floor routine. The crowd erupted and she clinched the gold medal. Viewers of every nationality gave a standing ovation to the “GOAT” of gymnastics, as she became the first woman to win two non-consecutive Olympic all-around titles.
Joining celebrities like Steph Curry, Shawn Johnson, Nadia Comaneci and more, spectators in attendance were treated to a monumental night.
As an Olympics that goes down in history as the first Olympic competition with an even number of women and men athletes, the eyes of the world Thursday night were on these women gymnasts, who radiated power that could be felt even from the top row of the arena.
The eyes of spectators young and old were fixed upon the apparatuses, unknowingly watching history be made.
As Biles stared at the ground in preparation for her floor routine; a hush, followed by goosebumps, spread throughout the crowd. Everyone in attendance knew that we were on the edge of a monumental moment for gymnastics, Biles, and women in sports everywhere.
At the conclusion of the competition, the spectators took to their feet once again. This time, for the United States of America’s national anthem where Biles and Sunni Lee grinned with pride for their performance on behalf of their country.
The crowd left slowly, soaking in every moment of the evening.
Biles left no doubt in anyone’s mind that the GOAT necklace deserved to hang on her neck, right next to her new gold medal.