Is Simone Biles the greatest American gymnast ever?
Simone Biles has emerged as one of the breakout stars of Rio 2016, winning four gold medals and adding another bronze to her tally.
Biles, who dominated the women's gymnastics competition outright, makes a strong case to be considered as the greatest American gymnast of all-time.
We examine how Biles fares against her compatriots of yesteryear.
Shannon Miller
The most decorated gymnast in American history, Miller's dominance extends across two Olympiads.
Miller's case gains credence for being the star of the "Magnificent Seven" 1996 team that briefly became a pop culture phenomenon. It would be difficult to rate Biles ahead of Miller, save for the fact that Kerri Strug stole the spotlight in 1996 with an iconic performance in the vault during the team all-around event.
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Floor exercise | Bronze |
| 1992 | Uneven bars | Bronze |
| 1992 | Team all-around | Bronze |
| 1992 | Balance beam | Silver |
| 1992 | Individual all-around | Silver |
| 1996 | Balance beam | Gold |
| 1996 | Team all-around | Gold |
Mary Lou Retton
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Floor exercise | Bronze |
| 1984 | Uneven bars | Bronze |
| 1984 | Vault | Silver |
| 1984 | Team all-around | Silver |
| 1984 | Individual all-around | Gold |
Mary Lou Retton racked up five medals on home soil in 1984, briefly becoming a household name. Retton parlayed her fame into numerous television and movie cameo appearances, and was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year as a result. However, Retton's accolades pale in comparison to Biles' haul.
Nastia Liukin
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Floor exercise | Bronze |
| 2008 | Balance beam | Silver |
| 2008 | Uneven bars | Silver |
| 2008 | Team all-around | Silver |
| 2008 | Individual all-around | Gold |
Much like Retton before her, Liukin ought to be lauded for her outstanding performance over a single Olympiad. Liukin submitted a tremendous performance in the individual all-around, edging teammate Shawn Johnson for the gold medal. However, Liukin's case as the greatest of all-time is diluted by Johnson's record, where she racked up a gold and three silver medals of her own.
Aly Raisman
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Balance beam | Bronze |
| 2012 | Team all-around | Gold |
| 2012 | Floor exercise | Gold |
| 2016 | Individual all-around | Silver |
| 2016 | Floor exercise | Silver |
| 2016 | Team all-around | Gold |
Raisman presents a strong case to be considered the greatest American gymnast of all-time, but unfortunately, her own career may be obscured by Biles' brilliance. With three gold medals to her name, history will be kind to Raisman and her longevity will rightfully be weighed into the argument.
If Raisman comes back for 2020, she could supplant Biles at the top, but the four-time gold medalist emerges atop the debate for the time being.
Verdict: Biles' four gold medals at Rio 2016 is enough to fend off her closest challengers - namely Miller and Raisman, for the designation of greatest American gymnast of all-time.
If the 19-year-old Biles returns in 2020, her hold on the title could become unassailable.
All photos courtesy Action Images