As Simone Biles eyes up a chance at another Olympic medal, a row of A-list celebrities are watching on.
The seven-time medallist is one of the most high-profile athletes at the Olympics, and her first performance in the artistic gymnastics on Sunday drew celebrities like it was Paris Fashion Week.
Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Tom Cruise, American Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and Snoop Dogg were in the crowd to watch the American gymnast.
Grande sat with Cynthia Erivo, the pair co-starring in their upcoming film Wicked. They were seen greeting Wintour, who was with Australian film director Baz Luhrmann.
Higher in the stands was singer Nick Jonas, seen chatting with singer John Legend and his wife, model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen. Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Chastain was also at Bercy Arena to watch Biles perform.
Biles is considered by many to be the GOAT of women’s gymnastics (the greatest of all time).
And her considerable medal haul (which includes four Olympic golds and 30 world championship medals) could have potentially been higher heading into the 2024 Olympics, if it wasn’t for her infamous case of the “twistys” at the Tokyo Games.
Biles was forced to pull out of several events at the Tokyo Olympics after suffering a disorientating mental block, and many wondered if she would compete again.
Her return to the Olympics stage is a major drawcard, and Biles rewarded the crowd with a dazzling performance.
She entered the Bercy Arena on Sunday to an eruption of cheers, with celebrities in the stands and a global television audience of millions.
An acrobatic beam routine came before an energetic floor programme that featured one of the five skills named after her. Then she delivered her big Biles II vault but decided not to attempt the new skill she is planning on uneven bars.
She scored a total of 59.566 to top the all-around standings with three sub-divisions still to go. It is hard to see that changing - that score would have won the last three World Championships.
Latest Stories
-
AEC 2024 renews momentum to lift Africa out of poverty despite global shocks
7 mins -
Can RFK Jr make America’s diet healthy again?
9 mins -
Maiden Women in Chemical Sciences conference opens with a call for empowerment
2 hours -
We’ll reclaim all Groupe Nduom stolen assets – Nduom declares
3 hours -
Center for Learning and Childhood Development Director Dr Kwame Sakyi honoured at Ghana Philanthropy Awards
11 hours -
Asantehene receives 28 looted artefacts
12 hours -
CAF WCL 2024: Ghana’s Thelma Baffour wins title with TP Mazembe
13 hours -
Benjamin Boakye slams politicisation of energy sector issues and ECG’s inefficiencies
13 hours -
Erastus Asare Donkor and Dr Neta Parsram win big at 10th Mining Industry Awards
14 hours -
Government is “suppressing information” about power sector challenges – IES Director
14 hours -
Majority of our debts caused by forex shortfall – ECG Boss
14 hours -
Pan-African Savings and Loans supports Ghana Blind Union with boreholes
15 hours -
Bole-Bamboi MP Yussif Sulemana donates to artisans and Bole SHS
15 hours -
Top up your credit to avoid potential disruption – ECG to Nuri meter customers
15 hours -
Dutch & Co wins 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Award
15 hours