Which teams would challenge Simone Biles-led U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team at the Paris Olympics ft. Great Britain, Brazil
The Simone Biles-led U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team is expected to rock it at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Like the 'Dream Team' of USA Basketball at the Barcelona Olympics, a lot is expected from the female gymnasts led by Simone Biles, who is appearing for the third and possibly the final time at the quadrennial Games.
The U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team participating in the French capital this year is one of the strongest teams, on paper, at least, and a strong favorite for the Olympic gold medal. They're the defending world champions, having won two consecutive gold medals at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023. With Russia out of the equation due to the IOC sanctions, the path to the gold medal in the team all-around event seems to be a cakewalk for Simone Biles and her teammates.
However, there a few teams who are determined to not let the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team win easily. Here are some of the female gymnastics teams from around the world who are ready to give the Simone Biles-led gymnasts a run for their money at the Paris Olympics:
Five countries that can challenge the might of the Simone Biles-led team at the 2024 Paris Olympics
#5 China
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a team broke the traditional dominance of Europe and America in the female artistic gymnastics, especially in the team event. This was host country China, who became the first ever Asian team in the history of female team all-around gymnastics to win the Olympic gold medal.
Since then, the team has qualified for almost every final, but has managed to win just one medal: a bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
In Paris, China stands a strong chance to climb onto the podium and possibly end their golden drought. This is because except for Simone Biles and Suni Lee, the rest on the US team aren't that experienced, and China has the uncanny capability of upsetting even the best on a given day.
#4 France
Another team that has the capability to surprise the USA in the team all-around is Team France.
With gymnasts like Melanie de Jesus dos Santos and Colline Devillard, they are more than willing to improve upon their performances from the Tokyo and Rio Olympics. The French team recently won the bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships.
#3 Japan
Another dark horse that has the capability of upsetting USA is Japan. Japan is to female artistic gymnastics what South Africa is to cricket, and Croatia is to soccer.
Despite having some of the best gymnasts, Japan somehow doesn't manage to convert their qualification brilliance into medal-winning performances. At Rio, the team missed a historic podium finish by a whisker. At Tokyo, despite doing well in the balance beam and floor exercise, the Japanese messed it up in the vault and the uneven bars event, ending up fifth overall in the finals.
If Japan has to continue the legacy of Asian supremacy, they will have to convert every chance into a strong performance that leaves no choice for the jury but to award them the gold medal in the team all-around event.
#2 Great Britain
With a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a silver at the 2022 World Championship, Team Great Britain is one of the strongest contenders for a team all-around gold.
All Great Britain needs to do is maintain consistency, something it seems to lose in events such as the balance beam. If GB manages to win even a single event in the overall competition, it has a strong chance to upset the USA.
#1 Brazil
Before 2012, Brazil did not even make it to the top eight, let alone be a contender for an Olympic medal. However, fast forward to the Paris Olympics which have almost arrived, they're one of the top bets for a team all-around gold medal.
Rebeca Andrade created history at the Tokyo Olympics. Even though she couldn't push the team forward to the all-around finals, she brought a silver medal from the individual all-around and won a historic gold in the vault event.
Andrade was instrumental in Brazil's historic wins at the 2023 World Championships as well, including a silver medal in the team all-around. She won five out of Brazil's six medals at the Championships.
Along with Jade Barbosa, who is one of the oldest female gymnasts taking part in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the others on Team Brazil, Rebecca Andrade aims to upset the Simone Biles and Suni Lee-led Team USA in its quest for the team all-around gold.