With gold on asymmetric bars, Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour creates gymnastics history for the continent

At the Paris Games on Sunday, Kaylia Nemour of Algeria made history by becoming the first gymnast from Africa to win an Olympic medal. Her stunning routine on the asymmetric bars left the audience at Bercy Arena in awe.

The 17-year-old thrilled the audience by doing a fast-paced performance that included several intricate release-and-catch techniques. The gymnast had previously represented France.

With 14.800 points, American Sunisa Lee won her second consecutive Olympic bronze on the apparatus, behind China’s Qiu Qiyuan, the 2023 world champion.

Carlos Edriel Yulo of the Philippines won the vault championship in the men’s competition on Sunday, earning him his second gold medal at the Olympics in as many days after he won the floor exercise on Saturday. Harry Hepworth of Britain won the bronze, while Artur Davtyan of Armenia won the silver.

Liu Yang won his Olympic gold medal on the rings, giving China their first gymnastics gold in Paris. Eleftherios Petrounias of Greece brought home the bronze, while his fellow countryman Zou Jingyuan was forced to settle for the silver.

As soon as Nemour finished her dismount from the asymmetric bars, the crowd let out a yell and leaped to their feet. With a performance score of an incredible 15,700 points, she gave Algeria its first medal of the Paris Olympics and instantly broke down in tears.

After the tournament, Nemour, who had been the favorite to win the gold, was still in shock.

Nemour remarked, “I can’t believe this is happened,” following her first-ever gold medal triumph at a significant international tournament. “This is excessive. I am at a loss for words.”

Nemour trailed Chinese youngster Qiu Qiyuan, who had also performed an amazing routine to take the lead in the rankings momentarily with 15.500 points.

“When I saw her result of 15.500 points, I told myself that I would really need to fight,” Nemour stated. “I re-focused quickly and got the best mark of my life, and it was the right time to get it.”

In a statement, the Algerian Olympic Committee referred to Nemour as a legend.

“You showed the world the strength and determination of Algeria with your wonderful victory,” stated the statement.

American Lee was observed yelling encouragement at Nemour throughout her performance.

“After winning her sixth Olympic medal, Kaylia, the all-around champion from the Tokyo Games, is so incredible that I really wanted her to win, so I was really aiming for the third place,” said Lee.

The previous Games’ apparatus champion, Nina Derwael of Belgium, was just 0.034 of a point off the podium.

Rebecca Downie, a British gymnast, lost all chance of placing on the podium after she stumbled off the apparatus while doing her trademark release-and-catch technique. Seventh place among the eight finalists was hers.

After perfecting her dismount and returning to finish her program, she grinned broadly and thanked the audience, capping her Olympic journey in Paris.

Similar to Nemour, Yulo was a gymnast who became a national hero after winning his second gold medal at the Games, becoming the first Filipino to win two gold medals at the Olympics.

“Winning yesterday took away all of my stress,” Yulo stated. “I felt more at ease and at ease today. Since there was nothing left to lose, it enabled me to give it all I had.”

With his triumph on the floor exercise on Saturday, the 24-year-old made history as the first Filipino to win an Olympic gymnastics championship. This achievement also won him a new residence.

Concerned about receiving a mansion for each gold medal, he responded, “I think so, but I should really check if that’s true.”

On Monday, the last artistic gymnastics events at the Paris Games will take place. There will be competition in the men’s parallel and horizontal bar finals and the women’s floor exercise and balancing beam finals.

The most decorated gymnast in history, American Simone Biles, will be looking to add two more gold medals to her collection of three that she has already earned in Paris.