US women’s gymnastics team wins gold in Rio

By PRITHA SARKAR REUTERS

8 years ago

2016 Rio Olympics – Artistic Gymnastics – Final – Women’s Team Final – Rio Olympic Arena – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 09/08/2016. Simone Biles (USA) of USA, Gabrielle Douglas (USA) of USA (Gabby Douglas), Laurie Hernandez (USA) of USA, Madison Kocian (USA) of USA, Alexandra Raisman (USA) of USA (Aly Raisman) bite their gold medals on the podium after winning the women’s team final. On left are silver medallists Russia. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

U.S. gymnasts, left to right, Simone Biles, Gabrielle Douglas, Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, and Lauren Hernandez wave to the audience at the end of the artistic gymnastics women’s team final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

2016 Rio Olympics – Artistic Gymnastics – Victory Ceremony – Women’s Team Victory Ceremony – Rio Olympic Arena – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 09/08/2016. The U.S., Russia and China teams pose with their medals after winning the gold, silver and bronze respectively at the women’s team final. (Mike Blake/Reuters)

2016 Rio Olympics – Artistic Gymnastics – Final – Women’s Team Final – Rio Olympic Arena – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 09/08/2016. Simone Biles (USA) of USA, Gabrielle Douglas (USA) of USA (Gabby Douglas), Laurie Hernandez (USA) of USA, Madison Kocian (USA) of USA, Alexandra Raisman (USA) of USA (Aly Raisman) sing their national anthem with their gold medals on the podium after winning the women’s team final. On right are bronze medallists China, with silver medallists Russia at the back. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters

China’s Liu Huixia and Chen Ruolin compete during the women’s synchronized 10-meter platform diving final in the Maria Lenk Aquatic Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

RIO DE JANEIRO — Simone Biles and her American teammates proved that they are an untouchable force in gymnastics as they blew away the opposition to win the women’s team title at the Olympics on Tuesday.

There were a few wobbles here and there, even for Biles, but those imperfections did not stop them winning the title by a massive 8.209 points over second placed Russia. China were third.

Since the open-ended scoring system was introduced to the sport in 2006, it was the biggest winning margin of any global championships.

They put in such a commanding performance that Biles needed to overhaul a target of just 7.591 with her final floor performance to secure her first Olympic medal.

A score of 15.800 left her and her teammates, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian, whooping with joy. It was a second successive team title for the U.S.