By TALES AZZONI, AP Sports WriterPARIS (AP) — Simone Biles reached the top of the podium yet again, cementing her legacy as the greatest American gymnast and one of the best athletes in the history of the Olympics.Biles helped the United States win the women’s team event Tuesday to secure her fifth Olympic gold medal and put the U.S. back on top of the sport after a second-place finish three years ago in Tokyo.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.US’ Simone Biles (R) and teammates celebrate after team USA won the artistic gymnastics women’s team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP) (Photo by LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: (L-R) Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles and Hezly Rivera of Team United States celebrate during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Sunisa Lee (L) and Jordan Chiles (R) of Team United States celebrate with the national flag after winning the gold medals during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Members of Team United States celebrate after Simone Biles’ routine in the floor exercise during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – US’ Simone Biles competes in the vault event of the artistic gymnastics women’s team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP) (Photo by LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Spike Lee is seen during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
President of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organising Committee (Cojo) Tony Estanguet (2ndL) and US former tennis player Serena Williams (C) wait for the start of the artistic gymnastics women’s team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP) (Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: (L-R) Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey, Hezly Rivera, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles of Team United States look on during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Jordan Chiles of Team United States looks on during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Simone Biles of Team United States reacts with her coach Laurent Landi after competing on the vault during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Simone Biles of Team United States competes on the vault during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Simone Biles of Team United States reacts after competing on the vault during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Simone Biles of Team United States reacts after competing on the vault during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Simone Biles of Team United States reacts during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Simone Biles of Team United States competes on the vault during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Show Caption1 of 15US’ Simone Biles (R) and teammates celebrate after team USA won the artistic gymnastics women’s team final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 30, 2024. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP) (Photo by LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)
ExpandIt 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.There were no such triumphs in swimming for the Americans, who couldn’t manage more than silver and bronze medals. In tennis, it was Coco Gauff left fuming over an officiating decision in a loss to Donna Vekic of Croatia.There were no winners or losers in men’s triathlon, which was as postponed because of concerns about the water quality in the Seine River amid a heat wave that made life difficult on some athletes and fans in Paris.US swimming woesAustralian Kaylee McKeown knocked off world record holder Regan Smith of the United States in the 100 backstroke to defend her the title from the Tokyo Games.Gold medalist Kaylee McKeown, of Australia, center, poses with silver medalist Regan Smith, of the United States, left, as bronze medalist Katharine Berkoff, of the United States, takes a group selfie, on the podium following the women’s 100-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)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 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 4×200 freestyle relay, with the U.S. earning yet another silver.Gauff upsetThe scene felt all too familiar to Gauff. An officiating decision she was sure was wrong. A chair umpire who wouldn’t listen. Tears streaming down her cheeks. And, most disappointing of all, a loss, this time at the Paris Games.Even the site was the same: Court Philippe Chatrier was where the reigning U.S. Open champion was eliminated in the third round at the Summer Games by Donna Vekic of Croatia 7-6 (7), 6-2.Coco Gauff of United States cries as she argues with umpire during her women’s singles third round match against Donna Vekic of Croatia, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)That’s also the main stadium used annually for the French Open, where Gauff found herself in a nearly identical dispute over a call while being defeated by eventual champion Iga Swiatek in the semifinals last month.“There’s been multiple times this year where that’s happened to me — where I felt like I always have to be an advocate for myself on the court,” Gauff said afterward, renewing a call for video review to be used in tennis, as it is in many other professional sports.Gauff was the female flag bearer for the United States during the opening ceremony on Friday.Also in tennis, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz advanced into the doubles quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 10-2 match tiebreaker victory over Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands.No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek defeated No. 52 Wang Xiyu of China 6-2, 6-4.Triathlon postponedThe men’s triathlon scheduled for Tuesday was postponed because of concerns about the water quality in the Seine River.It was rescheduled for Wednesday, when the women’s competition is also slated to be held. But both will happen only if water tests show acceptable levels of E. coli and other bacteria. Friday is also planned as a backup date.There is rain forecast Tuesday night through Thursday, which could complicate rescheduling because rain generally causes an increase in bacteria levels in the Seine, the long-polluted waterway that has gone through an expensive cleanup effort.“It’s disappointing that there’s this negative aspect now with the delay,” American triathlete Seth Rider said. “But I hope we can have a triathlon and I can accomplish this dream that I’ve had since I was a little kid.”Heat waveAfter enduring the rain in the opening ceremony, athletes now are having to deal with the heat.Most of France is under heat warnings, with temperatures in Paris hitting 36 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit), the national weather agency said. Air conditioning is far less common in French homes, shops and restaurants than in places like the United States.The heat was even worse in the south, including the region around the Mediterranean cities of Marseille and Nice that are hosting Olympic competitions like soccer and sailing. It was as hot as 41 C (105 F) in parts of southern France.Before winning the gold Tuesday, Biles posted a video on Instagram while struggling with the lack of air conditioning.“Don’t come for me about my hair,” Biles wrote on Instagram before the gymnastics team final. “IT WAS DONE but bus has NO AC and it’s like 9,000 degrees. Oh & a 45 minutes ride.”
Originally Published: July 31, 2024 at 12:29 p.m.