Kaylia Nemour of Algeria secured the country’s first Olympic gold medal in gymnastics with an electrifying performance in the uneven bars final on Sunday, narrowly surpassing China’s Qiu Qiyuan.
Sunisa Lee of the U.S. earned her third medal at the Paris Olympics and the sixth of her career, clinching bronze just as she did in Tokyo three years prior.
Originally from France, Nemour continues to train there but chose to represent Algeria after a dispute with the French gymnastics federation and her club, Avoine Beaumont. This decision led her to embrace her father’s Algerian heritage.
The 17-year-old excels on the bars, effortlessly transitioning between them with complex releases and precise hand movements that showcase both her athleticism and technical skill.
Nemour needed every bit of her expertise to edge out Qiu, who delivered a flawless routine. Qiu’s legs remained tightly together throughout, and her handstands were perfectly straight, earning her a score of 15.5. The crowd erupted in applause when the score was announced.
Nemour achieved a score of 15.7, the highest in any event during the competition, securing her victory.
Although Nemour competes under the Algerian flag, which she proudly draped over her shoulders after her win, she was competing on familiar ground. The crowd gave her a rousing ovation as she made history by winning Algeria’s first-ever gymnastics medal.
Meanwhile, Lee has been battling multiple kidney diseases over the past 15 months, which have limited her training. She only began seriously preparing for Paris in December. Despite the challenges, she has already secured three medals, having contributed to the U.S. team’s gold alongside Simone Biles last Tuesday, and a bronze in the all-around competition two days later, finishing behind Biles and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.
Lee’s six Olympic medals place her just one behind Shannon Miller for the second most by an American gymnast. She has the opportunity to tie Miller’s record in the balance beam final on Sunday.