Simone Biles Makes History With Fourth Gold Medal
Simone Biles made history with her four gold medals at this year's Olympic Games, and on Sunday she will leave Rio with a bang as Team USA's flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony.
The 19-year-old showed that she was head and shoulders above the competition, walking home with four team and individual gold medals in the women's all-around, vault and floor exercises. She also won a bronze medal on balance beam. She became the first American gymnast to win four gold medals in one Games, and one of only four gymnasts to do so in Olympics history.
Her performance in Rio improves her United States record to 18 individual medals in world and Olympic competition over the last three years, making her the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history.
Biles was voted to bear the U.S. flag by fellow Team USA members. She is only the second gymnast to ever be Team USA's flag bearer, in either the Opening or Closing Ceremony.
"It's an incredible honor to be selected as the flag bearer by my Team USA teammates," Biles said in a statement to TeamUSA.org. “This experience has been the dream of a lifetime for me and my team and I consider it a privilege to represent my country, the United States Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics by carrying our flag. I also wish to thank the city of Rio de Janeiro, and the entire country of Brazil, for hosting an incredible Games.”
