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Paris Rewind, Tuesday July 30: Simone Biles breaks another record, US women's rugby has historic win

Biles helped put the U.S. back on top of the sport after a second-place finish three years ago in Tokyo.

PARIS, France — Simone Biles and the rest of Team USA celebrated atop the podium after a dominant performance in the team final Tuesday.

Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey ended their "Redemption Tour" with a gold in front of a raucous crowd at the Bercy Arena. 

The U.S. men's soccer team advanced to the knockout stage for the first time in 24 years while the women's rugby team won their first ever Olympic medal.

But there were no such triumphs in swimming for the Americans as they couldn't manage more than silver and bronze medals in Tuesday's events.

Women's gymnastics all-around team final

Simone Biles and the rest of the women's gymnastics team dominated in the women's team event Tuesday. 

Team USA reached the top of the podium once more, putting the U.S. back on top after a second-place finish three years ago in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Biles' brilliant performance led to her fifth Olympic gold medal, cementing her legacy as the greatest American gymnast and one of the best athletes in the history of the Olympics.

Biles became the most decorated American gymnast in front of a crowd that included Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Spike Lee, Michael Phelps and Nadia Comaneci at a raucous Bercy Arena.

It was the eighth Olympic medal for the 27-year-old Biles, who was previously tied with Shannon Miller at seven.

Italy won the silver medal, and Brazil got the bronze.

Credit: AP
Simone Biles powered Team USA to the gold medal in the team finals for women's gymnastics on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France.

US swimming woes

Australian Kaylee McKeown knocked off world record holder Regan Smith of the United States in the 100-meter backstroke to defend her the title from the Tokyo Games.

Smith couldn’t hold off the hard-charging Aussie, who touched the wall in 57.33 seconds to win by a relatively comfortable margin over Smith’s 57.66. The U.S. also grabbed the bronze with Katharine Berkoff.

In the men’s 800-meter freestyle, Daniel Wiffen won Ireland’s first gold medal in swimming since scandal-plagued Michelle Smith won three events in 1996. Defending champion Bobby Finke of the U.S. got the silver.

The night’s other gold medal went to Britain, which defended its title in the men’s 4x200 freestyle relay, with the U.S. earning yet another silver.

US men's soccer team ends 24-year wait

To chants of “U.S.A.” America’s men ended a 24-year wait to reach the quarterfinals of the Olympic soccer tournament by beating Guinea 3-0 on Tuesday.

Victory in Saint-Etienne saw the U.S. reach the knockout phase of the Games for the first time since Sydney 2000, and it will play Morocco in Paris on Friday.

Two goals from Kevin Paredes and a brilliant free kick from Djordje Mihailovic secured the victory that meant the U.S. advanced in second place behind Group A winner France, which beat New Zealand 3-0.

The Americans — playing in the Olympics for the first time since Beijing 2008 — responded impressively to their opening 3-0 loss to France by winning back-to-back games against New Zealand and Guinea.

US women win a first Olympic medal in rugby sevens 

Alex Sedrick ran the length of the field, dived in under the posts and then calmly took the conversion, securing a first Olympic rugby sevens medal for the United States with a 14-12, last-minute upset over Australia.

Ilona Maher watched in awe as Sedrick bumped off two tacklers near her own tryline before sprinting all the way to the other end to score in front of a 60,000-plus crowd at Stade de France and spark jubilation for the Americans.

The American women lost to defending champion New Zealand in the semis — their first experience at that level — but overcame a 12-7 deficit against the 2016 champion Australians with just seconds on the clock.


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