17-year-old Algerian gymnast Kaylia Nemour soared to a gold medal finish during Sunday’s uneven bars final after an absolutely captivating individual performance.
Nemour scored a whopping 15.7 to win her first ever gold medal and become the first Olympic medalist in gymnastics from Africa. She defeated reigning world champion, China’s Qiu Qiyuan (15.5), who took home silver, and American gymnast Sunisa Lee, who took home bronze.
Among those watching at Bercy Arena was Simone Biles, who was no doubt in the house to cheer on her compatriot, Lee.
But even Biles couldn’t contain her excitement after seeing Nemour flawlessly stick the landing and raise both her arms in the air. Nemour immediately teared up on the mat, knowing she delivered possibly the best routine of her young Olympic career.
Biles was seen applauding Nemour's performance with a wide smile on her face. Nemour and Lee also shared a sweet embrace after Nemour’s score was announced.
Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour put on one of her best performances in the uneven bars final to win gold, and Simone Biles loved it. 🥇#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/iXDorLBrRW
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2024
The Algerian breakout star finished fifth in the women’s all-around final earlier this week but convincingly earned her spot on the podium on Sunday with a stunning show that left fans breathless.
People were especially happy for Nemour to win while representing Algeria, instead of France. Nemour holds dual citizenship in both countries but chose to compete for Algeria this summer due to a reported dispute between the French gymnastics federation and her club, Avoine Beaumont.
OH MY. 😲
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2024
What a stellar uneven bars routine from Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour! #ParisOlympics
📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/gZPZkZ0MFd
france did everything to block kaylia from switching to algeria and qualifying to the olympics … SHE JUST WON THE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL SAY HER NAME !!!!! pic.twitter.com/PMHFPaByZO
— emma (@gimternet) August 4, 2024
15.700 POUR KAYLIA NEMOUR. OH KAYLIA TU ES MAGNIFIQUE 😭❤️🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/oKYZuftFFX
— Selma 🇩🇿 (@selmambr) August 4, 2024
kaylia nemour is gonna get a gold medal for algeria in her home country of france after everything that’s happened with the federation…. absolutely poetic
— gymnast relate (@gymnastrelate) August 4, 2024
Kaylia Nemour winning ub gold IN france on the 20th anniversary of France’s one and only wag olympic medal after they continually screwed her over, this is the best day of my life!!! pic.twitter.com/niZkniwaov
— SUNI LEE 2X OLYMPIC CHAMPION (@jordynsleftbrow) August 4, 2024
No one swings like Kaylia Nemour. No one.
— Heath Thorpe (@thorpeheath) August 4, 2024
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Kaylia Nemour’s Epic Uneven Bars Routine Beloved by Simone Biles, Fans.
