The early moments were marked by a respectful silence, as a little person, who has become a symbol of tenacity and suffering in sports,
was ready to backflip down a polished wood piece that was just 10 cm wide. It felt as though we were seeing something outside the boundaries of Olympic theater.
After receiving a standing ovation from the audience and even being hailed for her warm-up, Simon Biles—dressed in a thousand sequins—found herself completely by herself.
The entire world, including Paris, was holding its breath, wondering if she would indeed sign her name at these Olympics in a completely different
manner from the one she used to represent her death. Starting with a routine on the beam, an equipment that has the power to crush a gymnast’s nerves like no other.
As she assessed the situation, every other competitor in the rotation had completed. All eyes were focused on her. There was a hush over the audience.
