Aug 1, 2024; Paris, France; Kaylia Nemour of Algeria competes on the uneven bars in the womenÃs gymnastics all-around during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Bercy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports PARIS — Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour became the first African gymnast to win an Olympic medal when she secured the gold with a breathtaking routine on the uneven bars at the Paris Games on Sunday that wowed the crowd in Bercy Arena.
The 17-year-old’s fast-paced routine featuring a number of complex release-and-catch maneuvers delighted the crowd that came to support a gymnast who had previously represented France.
China’s Qi-yuan Qiu Qiyuan, the 2023 world champion, took the silver medal, with Suni Lee of the United States winning bronze — her sixth overall Olympic medal.
Fans roared and jumped to their feet as soon as Nemour completed her dismount. She immediately broke down in tears as she handed Algeria its first medal of the Paris Olympics, with her performance scoring a staggering 15.700 points.
Nemour was still in disbelief after the competition.
“I can’t believe this is happened,” the teenager said after winning her first gold medal at a major global competition. “This is too much. I have no words.”
Nemour was up after Qiu, who executed a spectacular routine to briefly top the standings with 15.500 points.
“When I saw her result of 15.500 points, I told myself that I would really need to fight,” Nemour said. “I refocused quickly and got the best mark of my life, and it was the right time to get it.”
The Algerian Olympic Committee issued a statement calling Nemour a legend.
“You showed the world the strength and determination of Algeria with your wonderful victory,” the statement said.
Lee, who claimed a second successive Olympic bronze on the apparatus with 14.800 points, could be seen cheering for Nemour throughout her routine.
“I was really aiming for the third place because I knew I actually really wanted Kaylia to win, just because she’s so incredible,” Lee said.
Nina Derwael of Belgium, the champion at the Tokyo Games, finished 0.034 of a point off the podium.
British gymnast Rebecca Downie’s hopes of finishing on the podium were shattered after she fell off the apparatus while attempting her signature release-and-catch move. She finished seventh out of eight finalists.
She returned to complete her routine, nailing her dismount and broke into a smile as she saluted the crowd, ending her Olympic efforts in Paris.
Among the men, China’s Yang Liu flexed his muscles to successfully defend his Olympic title in the rings final, earning China its first gold medal in gymnastics at the Paris Games.
The 29-year-old scored 15.300 points, edging out compatriot Jingyuan Zou’s 15.233.
Silver medalist Zou had been the top qualifier for the final. But on Sunday, he fell short of the gold by a razor thin margin of 0.067 of a point.
Greece’s Eleftherios Petrounias took the bronze with 15.100.
Finishing 1-2 in the strongman’s event was something of a redemption for China’s gymnasts, who had narrowly missed out on gold in both the team and all-around finals.
In last Monday’s team final, China looked to have the title wrapped up until two gymnasts bungled their routines in spectacular fashion on the final apparatus, handing Japan an improbable 11th-hour win.
Team China settled for silver, while two days later, Boheng Zhang also had to take silver behind Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka in the men’s all around final.
–Reuters, Special to Field Level Media
