Olympics gymnastics live updates: Simone Biles wins gold, Suni Lee bronze in women’s all-around final

Olympics gymnastics live updates: Simone Biles wins gold, Suni Lee bronze in women’s all-around final

August 1, 2024

The records keep piling up for Team USA’s Simone Biles after winning team gold on Tuesday, with another shot at gold coming up today.

So how does she stack up against fellow Olympic greats like Katie Ledecky, Michael Phelps, Carl Lewis, Allyson Felix and others when it comes to gold medals and overall medals?

Biles, 27, is already the most decorated Olympic gymnast in U.S. history with eight total medals, five of them gold.

Really no one compares to Phelps, the retired swimming legend whose 23 gold medals and 28 total medals are both Olympic records for any athlete in any sport.

Ledecky, 27, now has eight gold medals and 12 medals overall after winning the 1,500-meter race last night. She is still competing in more events in Paris, so she could add to that total.

Simone Biles isn’t too far behind Katie Ledecky when it comes to gold medals, despite having less chances to win them.Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

Biles has a shot to reach nine career gold medals if she wins the all-around and the three upcoming individual events in which she qualified for the finals.

Swimmers have an advantage over gymnasts in that they have more chances to medal because they compete in relays and can qualify in numerous races. The maximum number of medals a gymnast can win in one Games is six, whereas Phelps won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics alone.

Plus, swimmers have more longevity than gymnasts. Phelps competed in five different Olympics, and Ledecky has indicated she will be gunning for a fifth Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. The majority of gymnasts compete in one or two Olympics, with some rare stars like Biles competing in three.

The record for most total gymnastics medals is out of reach for Biles unless she defies time and comes back in 2028. Former Soviet Union gymnast Larisa Latynina is second all time behind Phelps with 18 total medals, 9 of them gold, across three Olympics from 1956-64.

However, Biles could catch or pass some other American luminaries. With two more gold medals she would tie track legend Allyson Felix with 7, and with four more she would tie swimming great Mark Spitz and track immortal Carl Lewis with 9.