Simone Biles Exits Rio a Golden Girl

The Simone Show went out in style. And gold. Again. Simone Biles put the finishing touches on one of the greatest Olympics by a gymnast, capturing her fourth gold of the games with an electric performance in the floor exercise on Tuesday, the AP reports. The 19-year-old American completed an extraordinary stretch that included a team gold for the "Final Five" as well as individual golds in the all-around and vault and bronze on balance beam. 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 four others.

Buoyant in a glittery red, white, and blue leotard, Biles spent 90 seconds showcasing her talent in her signature event. She embraced her longtime coach shortly after her routine—which includes a tumbling pass named in her honor and a Brazilian-themed segment intended to play to the crowd in Rio—and beamed when her score of 15.966 was posted. Teammate Aly Raisman followed with a 15.500 to give her a third medal during Rio and six overall in her Olympic career. The medals gave the American women nine during the meet, the most ever by the US at an Olympics. Biles plans to take a break following the closing ceremonies and try to adjust to a life that will never be the same after nine days that elevated her from gymnastics' best-kept secret to star. (More Simone Biles stories.)