For Italy and Brazil, losing to Team USA Simone Biles in the Olympics still felt like a victory
PARIS: Watching the women's gymnastics team's after-party in Paris on Tuesday, it was unclear who won.
Team USA led by Simone Biles? Brazilian star Rebeca Andrade and her teammates? Or the Italian team led by 17-year-old Manila Esposito?
Athletes from all three countries cheered as the final score flashed on the giant screen at Bercy Arena. When they started chanting “USA! USA!”, his fellow Brazilians danced and waved blue, green and yellow flags. The Italians hugged each other tightly.
The total of 171,296 Americans made Biles the most Olympic gymnast in US history to win an eighth gold medal.
But it was also a historic day for Italy and Brazil.
Italy's silver medal was the first in the event since 1928, when Brazil had never won a team medal.
“We still don't understand what it means,” said Italy's Alice D'Amato when asked about finishing second.
The Brazilian team was the last to come out on the field. They stopped under the grandstand, and teammates even lifted Andrade up so he could hug supporters hanging from the fence.
“It's amazing how we did it,” said Jade Barbosa, Brazil. “This is pure magic. Brazil was not big in this sport. We used to have a lot of people, but now we have a group of gymnasts. “
The Italian team finished with 165.494 points to better Brazil's 164.497 after Angela Andreoli performed a powerful floor routine.
“I know being on stage is an important habit,” Andreoli said. “I was under pressure, but my teammates were able to help me keep my composure.”
Brazil's hopes of a podium finish were almost dashed before the start of the tournament when Flavia Saraiva injured her right eye during the warm-up.
“I couldn't see, it was bleeding, but the team doctor told me everything was fine,” said Saraiva. “I believe my knee hit my eye when I fell. This is not the first time this has happened to me. Maybe I need stitches.”
Saraiva wore a scarf over her eyes. She was careful on the bars and didn't fall on the beam, then did an easier exercise on the floor and ended the night with a powerful vault.
“We are warriors,” said Saraiva.
Her partner Andrade was excellent on all four apparatus, posting a beautiful program on the floor with a 15.100 on the vault. If she completes that field during Thursday's finals, she could give Biles a gold medal.
