Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour made history as the first African gymnast to win an Olympic medal, claiming gold with a dazzling routine on the asymmetric bars at the Paris Games.
The 17-year-old’s high-energy performance, featuring intricate release-and-catch moves, captivated the audience at Bercy Arena. Nemour, who previously competed for France, received a standing ovation and cheers as she completed her dismount.
Overcome with emotion, Nemour was in tears as she secured Algeria’s first medal of the Paris Olympics, scoring an impressive 15.700 points. She remained in awe and disbelief after her groundbreaking achievement.
“I can’t believe this is happened,” the teenager said after winning her first gold medal at a major global competition. “This is too much. I have no words.”
Nemour was up after China’s Qiu Qiyuan, the 2023 world champion, who had executed a spectacular routine to briefly top the standings with 15.500 points.
“When I saw her result of 15.500 points, I told myself that I would really need to fight,” Nemour said. “I re-focused quickly and got the best mark of my life, and it was the right time to get it.”
The Algerian Olympic Committee issued a statement calling Nemour a legend.
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“You showed the world the strength and determination of Algeria with your wonderful victory,” the statement said.
U.S. gymnast Sunisa Lee, who claimed a second successive Olympic bronze on the apparatus with 14.800 points, could be seen cheering for Nemour throughout her routine.
“I was really aiming for the third place because I knew I actually really wanted Kaylia to win, just because she’s so incredible,” Lee said.
Nina Derwael of Belgium, the champion at the Tokyo Games, finished 0.034 of a point off the podium.
British gymnast Rebecca Downie’s hopes of finishing on the podium were shattered after she fell off the apparatus while attempting her signature release-and-catch move. She finished seventh out of eight finalists.
She returned to complete her routine, nailing her dismount and broke into a smile as she saluted the crowd, ending her Olympic efforts in Paris.
