Tokyo, Aug. 2, (dpa/GNA) – Jade Carey took a surprise women’s Olympic floor title on Monday in the absence of 2016 winner Simone Biles, but the US star will finally return to action in the balance beam final.
Fellow American Carey, 21, scored 14.366 to seal floor gold and a first Olympic medal, with Italy’s Vanessa Ferrari taking silver ahead of Japan’s Mai Murakami and Russian Angelina Melnikova, who shared bronze.
British twins Jessica and and Jennifer Gadirova were sixth and seventh respectively.
Carey, who had been last in the final on the vault, told a press conference: “I feel really great about tonight. All my hard work has paid off and this is all I ever dreamed of.”
Biles posted a photograph of Carey as a gold medallist along with the tag “Go Jade” on her Instagram.
Biles has only participated in all-around qualifying and the vault in the team event at the Tokyo Games, saying she wanted to protect her mental health.
The 24-year-old, who has 23 gold medals from world championships and Olympics, withdrew from all individual events so far after struggling to synchronize mind and body in training.
However, the American, who won four golds at Rio 2016, has decided to compete in Tuesday’s balance beam final.
“We are so excited to confirm that you will see two US athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow – Suni Lee AND Simone Biles!! Can’t wait to watch you both!” USA Gymnastics tweeted on Monday.
Despite her absence, the US has so far claimed five medals in the women’s gymnastics at Tokyo.
China’s Liu Yang earlier produced a near flawless performance to seal gold in the men’s rings competition.
He scored 15.500 points with compatriot You Hao taking silver on 15.300. It is China’s first gold in artistic gymnastics at the Tokyo Games, with Zhu Xueying winning the women’s individual trampoline final.
Liu took bronze in the team competition in Rio but last won a gold at the 2014 world championships on the rings.
Bronze went to Greece’s Eleftherios Petrounias, the 2016 rings champion.
South Korean Shin Jeah Wan triumphed in the men’s vault final with Russian Denis Abliazin having to settle for silver for the second straight Games.
He had the same score of 14.783 as the South Korean, who won on a tiebreak as he had the single highest vault score.
Artur Davtyan secured bronze for Armenia, the country’s first ever Olympic gymnastics medal.
GNA