Despite expectations for Biles, it was a just reward for the Sao Paulo native who added another gold to her Tokyo vault victory, along with two silvers and a bronze she acquired in Paris.
Yet, not everyone appreciated Biles and Chiles' gesture of sportsmanship with Marlon Humphrey, NFL cornerback, voicing his dismay. The Baltimore Ravens player expressed his displeasure on X with the tribute paid to Andrade as she celebrated her inaugural gold at these Games.
Having entertained audiences throughout the season, Humphrey, a disgruntled three-time Pro Bowler, criticized their display as he stated: "This is literally disgusting."
Now, former United States First Lady Michelle Obama has joined the conversation, offering an alternative perspective in her supportive remarks. She expressed: "I'm still not over this beautiful moment of sisterhood and sportsmanship! You can just feel the love shining through these ladies. Congrats Rebeca, Jordan and Simone!"
The poignant scene on the awards rostrum evidently moved Andrade, who appeared quite affected by the sentiment displayed by her esteemed peers. She later confessed: "It was very cute of them. They are the world's best athletes. What they've done means a lot to me. I feel honored."
"Actually, we are always rooting for each other. We all know how difficult it is to take part in the Olympics," she continued, shedding light on the rapport among the elite gymnasts at the Games. "The final was difficult for everyone. Therefore, I'm very happy I was able to win."
Regarding Biles, she shared her elation after her Brazilian counterpart secured a gold, rounding off what had been a series of exhilarating performances throughout the summer. Biles commented: "She's so amazing, she's a queen. First, it was an all-Black podium, Jordan was like, 'shall we bow to her? ' And I said absolutely. She's so exciting to watch. All the fans cheering for her. it was the right thing to do."
The floor exercise final at the Olympics showcased the first all-Black podium in the history of men's or women's gymnastics. Simone Biles expressed her feelings by saying: "That was great. We already had that at the World Championships, and now to be able to do it at the Olympics means that we show the Black power."
"We can make it happen. They will either applaud us or will have to swallow it. I love myself, I love my skin colour, but I'm not focused on that. Rebeca goes beyond her colour. The same goes for Simone and Jordan."
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