Algeria's Kaylia Nemour had the crowd at Bercy Arena in the palm of her hand Sunday afternoon (4 August) as she swung her way into history at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The French-born gymnast struck uneven bars gold with a massive 15.700 score, holding off a strong challenge from the People's Republic of China's Qiu Qiyuan, the reigning world champion on the event. Qiu scored 15.600.

Two-time Olympic all-around medallist Suni Lee grabbed a third medal of these Games in third at 14.800.

"It really is my lifelong dream," Nemour told Olympics.com. "It's been a goal since 2020. Even I had my doubts before I stepped on the bar, I told myself it wasn't possible that I'd be Olympic champion. And I passed, it was incredible."

Nemour's triumph is a first for Algeria and any African gymnast at the Olympic Games. She is Algeria's sixth ever Olympic champion.

"I am very happy to have won this medal for Algeria. I hope I made them proud," she said. "It's true that the pressure was very high the last days, but I managed to stay calm and focused. I was able to perform my routine (well) today."

Nemour's Journey to Olympic Glory

A year ago, Nemour made history for her nation as she won world silver on the event. It was the first medal by an African gymnast at the World Gymnastics Championships.

Her 2024 season has been brilliant, with World Cup wins and massive 15.500 or higher scores in Cottbus, Doha and Baku. Those performances marked the 17-year-old as a favourite for gold in Paris.

Nemour was overcome with emotion as soon as her feet hit the mat on her stuck double layout dismount. Qiu embraced her as the score came up, with Lee coming over to congratulate the Algerian.

"Everyone did incredible. It was super cool to just see them because I think only we can really understand all the work that we put in," Lee told reporters afterward. "So seeing all of them go up there and do everything that they were supposed to do after watching them in practice, this is just super cool and I'm so happy for everyone."

Suni Lee's Resilience and Determination

For U.S. gymnast Suni Lee, winning the all-around gold medal at Tokyo 2020 was a dream come true.

An unexpected burden, too.

The then-18-year-old found herself suddenly thrust into the global spotlight, the next in a long line of Olympic legends to claim the crown including Nadia Comaneci, Nastia Liukin and Simone Biles.

Lee told reporters she had imposter syndrome.

It’s something that’s stuck with her, even as she’s defied all the odds to make it to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 despite a kidney-related illness that a year ago looked to threaten her return trip to the Games.

Teammates Biles and Jordan Chiles could feel the self-doubt, Lee told Olympics.com, encouraging her to own her greatness in a heart-to-heart ahead of Tuesday’s (30 July) women’s team final.

“They were just like, ‘You need to walk out like the reigning Olympic champion,” she told us exclusively. “Because they see it in the gym that I just feel a little bit more nervous or tense.

“I feel like I’ve been trying to channel that a little bit more,” she continued. “It’s definitely showing in my gymnastics.”

Over the last week in Paris, Lee has won three medals, team gold and all-around and uneven bars bronze. Her all-around medal was the first for a reigning Olympic champion since Comaneci took gold in 1976 and following it up with silver in 1980.

Only 12 women, including Biles, own two Olympic all-around medals.

Lee’s six total Olympic medals are currently tied with Aly Raisman for third by an American gymnast. She'll go for medal number seven - moving to a tie for second place with Shannon Miller - in Monday's (5 August) balance beam final.

“[I’m] just enjoying every single moment,” she said. “It’s just been really fun.”

A Triumph of Will

Nemour's victory is a testament to her unwavering dedication and resilience. Despite facing numerous challenges, she has emerged as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring gymnasts across the globe. Her historic gold medal is not just a personal achievement, but a triumph for Algeria and a symbol of the power of dreams and determination.

The future of gymnastics is bright, with young athletes like Nemour and Lee blazing trails and redefining the boundaries of the sport. As the curtain falls on the Olympic Games Paris 2024, one thing is certain: the legacy of these extraordinary athletes will continue to inspire generations to come.