For Italy and Brazil, losing to Simone Biles' American team at the Olympics still felt like a victory
PARIS: Watching the celebrations after the women's gymnastics team final at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, it was impossible to tell who had won.
Team USA led by Simone Biles? Brazilian star Rebecca Andrade and her teammates? Or the Italian team led by 17-year-old Manila Esposito?
Athletes from three countries cheered as the final scores flashed on the giant screens inside the bustling Bercy Arena. As the legions of American fans began chanting “USA! USA!”, their Brazilian counterparts danced and waved blue, green and yellow flags. The Italians hugged each other warmly.
The Americans' total of 171,296 made Biles the most decorated Olympic gymnast in U.S. history with her eighth gold medal.
But it was also a historic day for Italy and Brazil.
Italy's silver medal was their first at the tournament since 1928, while Brazil had never won a team medal before.
“We still don't know what that means,” said Italy's Alice D'Amato when asked about second place.
The Brazilian team was the last to leave the field. They stood under the bleachers, and Andrade was even lifted by teammates so he could hug fans hanging over the railing.
“It's magic that we did it,” said Jade Barbosa from Brazil. “This is pure magic. Brazil was not big in this sport. We had some really good people, but now we have a great group of gymnasts.
The Italian team finished with a score of 165.494 before Brazil did a strong routine on the floor with 164.497 better than Angela Andreoli.
“I knew it was a routine to get on the podium,” Andreoli said. I was under pressure, but my partners were able to help me keep my cool.
Brazil's hopes of reaching the podium were almost dashed before the start of the tournament when Flavia Saraiva injured her right eye during the warm-up.
“I couldn't see, I was bleeding, but the team doctor told me everything was fine,” Saraiva said. I think my knee hit my eye when I fell. This is not the first time this has happened to me. “I might need some stitches.”
Saraiva soldiered on with a bandage over her eye. She was careful on the bars and didn't fall on the beam, then did an easier version of her floor exercises and ended her night with a strong vault.
“We are warriors,” Saraiva said.
Her teammate Andrade excelled on the four-meal, putting up great routines on floor along with a 15.100 on vault. If he performs at that level in Thursday's all-around final, he could catch the Bills for gold.
