Simone Biles wins third Paris 2024 gold in women's vault

Simone Biles hitting the vault during the event final of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Simone Biles won another gold medal in the women’s vault apparatus final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 27-year-old American notched her eight career gold, making her the second most decorated gymnast at Bercy Arena. Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade nailed her vaults to secure the silver and her second in the Olympics. Jade Carey did enough to get bronze, surpassing the other five competitors. 

Andrade was the biggest threat to Biles, who carried the highest difficulty on the apparatus. The 27-year-old had Jade Carey running alongside her in the event final, seeing many gymnasts perform the double Yurchenko to compete heavily. 

Biles was fourth of the eight to go and put the biggest number on the scoreboard. Her first attempt was big, taking a hop on the landing, earning 15.700. Her second attempt had a smaller hop, averaging her score to 15.300. With more than a point lead over North Korea’s Ok Chang An and four still to go, Biles guaranteed herself a medal. 

Andrade took her shot at besting Biles's score by performing a Chung and stuck the landing right in the middle. The judges scored her 15.100, short of Biles's first vault. Her Yurchenko two-and-a-half twist saw Andrade take a small hop back, averaging 14.966. It made it hard for anyone left to get between her and Biles, as one American remained. 

Carey was last to go and needed 14.2 or better to medal, and her first attempt had a minor hop, but enough to get 14.733. Her Amanar move in her second attempt stuck much better, earning 14.466 for the bronze medal. With eight gold medals, Biles surpasses Vera Caslavska of Czechoslovakia for the most golds, sitting one away from Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union.