With Simone Biles out, Russians take Olympic gold over US in gymnastics team final

The Russian Olympic Committee upset the United States in the Tokyo Olympics women’s gymnastics team final Tuesday amid Simone Biles dropping out of the event due to a "medical issue."

The ROC finished with a score of 169.528 and won the gold medal. The U.S. had a 166.096 and finished with a silver medal. Great Britain picked up a bronze with a 164.096, edging out Italy and Japan.

The Russians got big performances from Lilia Akhaimova, Angelina Melnikova and Vladislava Urazova in the vault to start the team final off great. Akhaimova led all the gymnasts with a 14.77 score.

Teammates Liliia Akhaimova, right, Vladislava Urazova, center and Viktoriia Listunova watch the performance of Angelina Melnikova of the Russian Olympic Committee as she performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Melnikova would outdo her Russian teammates in the uneven bars with a score of 14.933 but it was American Sunisa Lee who led the way in the event with a 15.400.

In the third rotation, the U.S. got strong performances on the balance beam from Lee and Jordan Chiles. Viktoria Listunova led the ROC with a 14.333.

It came down to the floor routine in the fourth rotation for both the U.S. and the ROC. Despite a valiant effort from Lee and Grace McCallum, it was Listunova who led the way with a 14.166 and put the ROC over the top in the team competition.

The Russians won silver at the 2016 Olympics, losing to the U.S.

The Americans’ performance was overshadowed by Biles’ scratch.