'This experience has been the dream of a lifetime': Olympic golden girl Simone Biles is chosen to carry the American flag at closing ceremony in Rio - making her the second gymnast in US history to have the honor
- Simone Biles has secured her place in history as arguably the greatest gymnast ever
- She was chosen by Team USA teammates to carry the US flag at the closing ceremony in Rio
- The 19-year-old said her 'experience has been the dream of a lifetime' as she thanked her teammates
- Biles is only the second gymnast named flag bearer for US, after Alfred Jochim in 1936 opening ceremony
- Her five medals tie the most for an American female gymnast in a single Olympics
- Biles won team and individual gold medals in the women's all-around, vault and floor exercise
- She added a fifth medal when she won bronze on the balance beam
- Her historic performances propelled the US women’s gymnastics team to a total of nine medals in Rio
- That total surpasses the team’s previous high of eight from the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008
Simone Biles has not only carved a spot for herself in Olympic history, she has been bestowed the honor of carrying the US flag at the closing ceremony on Sunday, making her the second gymnast is US history to do so.
The US Olympic Committee said on Saturday that the 19-year-old gymnastics powerhouse was chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA members.
'It's an incredible honor to be selected as the flag bearer by my Team USA teammates,' Biles told TeamUSA.org.
'This experience has been the dream of a lifetime for me and my team and I consider it a privilege to represent my country, the United States Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics by carrying our flag.
Simone Biles has not only carved a spot for herself in Olympics history, she has been bestowed the honor of carrying the US flag at the closing ceremony on Sunday, making her the second gymnast is US history to do so
The US Olympic Committee said on Saturday that the 19-year-old gymnastics powerhouse was chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA members. Biles said that 'it's an incredible honor to be selected as the flag bearer'
Biles will be the second gymnast to be named flag bearer for the US, just after Alfred Jochim in the 1936 opening ceremony
'I also wish to thank the city of Rio de Janeiro, and the entire country of Brazil, for hosting an incredible Games.'
Biles will be the second gymnast to be named flag bearer for the US, just after Alfred Jochim in the 1936 opening ceremony.
Her five medals tie the most for an American female gymnast in a single Olympics and her four golds tie an Olympic record shared by just four others.
Biles won team and individual gold medals in the women's all-around, vault and floor exercise, while adding a fifth medal - bronze - on the balance beam.
In the floor exercise, in which she secured her fourth gold medal, Biles scored an incredibly high 15.966.
Biles led the Americans to a second consecutive team gold medal by an incredible eight points before winning the all-around title.
Biles performed a tumbling pass named in her honor during the floor exercise, since she is the only female gymnast to attempt it in competition. Above, Biles performs during the floor exercise
One of Biles' strengths is that she performs routines with a very high level of difficulty. So even if she doesn't have a clean landing, she can still beat the rest of the field by a wide margin
Her five medals tie the most for an American female gymnast in a single Olympics and her four golds tie an Olympic record shared by just four others
Her historic performances propelled the US women’s gymnastics team to a total of nine medals in Rio, surpassing the team’s previous high of eight from the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, according to TeamUSA.org.
The nine medals are the most won by any women’s team since the Soviet Union claimed 10 medals at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.
Her success in Rio cemented claims that she's the best gymnast of her generation and probably the best ever.
She entered the Games as the three-time defending world all-around champion.
And her 10 gold medals earned over that span is a record for any gymnast, and she has 14 medals from world championship competitions.
After the Games end on Sunday, Biles and the Final Five will head to New York for a media tour and then embark on a 36-city Kellogg's Tour, according to KHOU 11.
'It's been a long journey,' Biles said. 'I've enjoyed every single moment of it. I know our team has. It's been very long in competing so many times. It got tiring. But we just wanted to end on a good note.'
Just over two weeks ago, Michael Phelps carried the American flag into the Opening Ceremony, leading Team USA into the Parade of Nations.
Biles won team and individual gold medals in the women's all-around, vault and floor exercise, while adding a fifth medal - bronze - on the balance beam. She secured her fourth gold medal (pictured) in the floor exercise with an incredibly high score of 15.966. Pictured her teammate Aly Raisman (left) won silver and Great Britain's Amy Tinkler (right) won bronze
Biles became the second African-American woman to do win the individual all-around competition at this year's Olympics, behind teammate Gabby Douglas
Her historic performances propelled the US women’s gymnastics team to a total of nine medals in Rio, surpassing the team’s previous high of eight from the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008
The nine medals are the most won by any women’s team since the Soviet Union claimed 10 medals at the 1972 Olympics in Munich
The teen is set to make millions over the next four years as she prepares to better her four golds and a bronze, won at her first Olympics.
But she said she was also looking forward to trying to live a normal life, and she would happily enjoy the red carpets that inevitably will be rolled out for her.
Biles said: ‘It has been a phenomenal experience. Our whole team did a very good job and I think the people back home in the US could be proud of us.
‘It is pretty insane (four golds and a bronze) what I have accomplished at my first Olympics. It is definitely very rewarding and I am proud of myself.'
‘I hope people remember our passion and our drive towards this sport and our good sportsmanship to each other and we had fun…and that is why we are so successful,' Biles said.
When asked by Daily Mail Online whether she was prepared for the fame heaped on her young shoulders, she said: ‘I am sure I will have some help. Gabby (Douglas) and Aly Raisman have been through it and they guide us just like they have this whole journey.
‘It is kind of scary with the public eye being on me at all times, but its rewarding as well. I think we will get used to it.’
Her success in Rio cemented claims that she's the best gymnast of her generation and probably the best ever. Biles blows kisses to her fans in the audience during the floor exercise competition
The teen is set to make millions over the next four years as she prepares to better her four golds and a bronze, won at her first Olympics
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3750603/Simone-Biles-chosen-carry-American-flag-closing-ceremony-Rio.html#ixzz4Hu7Vs0Zr
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