At the Paris Games on Sunday, Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour made history by becoming the first African gymnast to earn an Olympic medal. She won gold with a remarkable asymmetric bars routine that thrilled the audience at Bercy Arena. The 17-year-old delivered a high-energy performance with intricate release-and-catch moves, impressing fans who had previously seen her compete for France.
China’s Qiu Qiyuan, the 2023 world champion, secured the silver medal, while American gymnast Sunisa Lee earned her second consecutive Olympic bronze on the apparatus with a score of 14.800 points.
The 17-year-old, Nemour delivered a high-speed routine with complex release-and-catch elements that thrilled the audience, who had come to support a gymnast with a history of competing for France. As soon as Nemour landed her dismount, the crowd erupted in cheers, and she was overcome with emotion, shedding tears as she earned Algeria’s first medal of the Paris Olympics with a remarkable score of 15.700 points.
In the aftermath, Nemour could barely grasp the significance of her achievement, stating, “I can’t believe this is real. It’s overwhelming. I’m speechless,” reflecting on her first gold medal at a major global event.
Nemour performed after China’s Qiu Qiyuan, the 2023 world champion, who had set the bar high with a stunning routine that initially led with a score of 15.500 points. Nemour remarked, “Seeing her score made me realize how hard I had to push. I quickly refocused and achieved the highest score of my career just when it mattered most.”
The Algerian Olympic Committee celebrated Nemour as a legend, noting, “You have showcased Algeria’s strength and resolve with your extraordinary win.”
Throughout Nemour’s routine, US gymnast Sunisa Lee, who earned a second consecutive Olympic bronze with a score of 14.800 points, was visibly supportive. Lee expressed, “I was aiming for third because I really wanted Kaylia to win; she’s exceptional.”
Belgian gymnast Nina Derwael, the Tokyo Games champion, narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing just 0.034 points short of the podium.
British gymnast Rebecca Downie’s chances of securing a podium finish were dashed when she fell off the apparatus while attempting her signature release-and-catch move. She ended up in seventh place out of eight finalists. Despite the setback, she completed her routine with a successful dismount and smiled as she acknowledged the audience, bringing her Olympic campaign in Paris to a close.
