LeBron James’ tribute to Simone Biles hammers home enormity of her remarkable Olympics success
GOATs recognize GOATs.
On Thursday evening, Simone Biles put the ghosts of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics behind her to capture gold in the women's individual all-around final - the second gold medal of her 2024 Games and second in the event after winning the title in Rio in 2016.
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The 27-year-old danced, vaulted and twirled herself to glory ahead of Brazil's Rebeca Andrade (second place) and compatriot Suni Lee (third place) in front of a packed-out Bercy Arena in Paris, France.
The tense showdown was watched by Team USA basketball stars Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker and Tyrese Haliburton, who cheered Biles on from the stands and recorded her gravity-defying heroics on their phones.
LeBron James enjoyed the 3x3 basketball and beach volleyball with his family, but later took to Instagram to pay homage to the GOAT (greatest of all time) gymnast.
The King shared an image of Biles biting her gold medal with a goat emoji.
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The photo included the following stat: 'Since 1976, every women's Olympic all-around champion has been under the age of 20. Simone Biles is 27 years old.'
This was Biles' sixth Olympic gold medal and 39th career medal in total (between the Olympics and world championships), firmly cementing her status as the world's most decorated gymnast.
Biles kindly reminded everyone why she's considered the greatest of all time with her stunning performance on Thursday, and held up a sparking GOAT necklace for the entire world to see once her victory was confirmed.
"It's a little ode... a lot of people love it. They always call me the GOAT, so I thought it would be really special if I got one made," she said.
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"The haters hate it, but I like that even more. It's just a special part of me that I have here.
"In the [athletes'] village I have a stuffed goat. Just to get a reminder, like 'You can go out there, you can do it. You've done it before. So let's go'."
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James' tribute to Biles has more weight to it than most - he certainly knows greatness when he sees it.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer is regularly mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan when it comes to basketball's greatest.
The 39-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star continues to defy Father Time and has been Team USA basketball's best player -- alongside Durant -- in the French capital.
After becoming the first US basketball player to be wave the flag at the Olympics Opening Ceremony, James joined Durant and Carmelo Antony has the only NBA players with over 300 points at the Olympics.
He is currently bidding for his third Olympic gold after wins in 2008 and 2012, with Team USA currently atop Group C with wins over Serbia and South Sudan.
James and the rest of Steve Kerr's team wrap up the group phase with a game against Puerto Rico on Saturday - a nation who handed LeBron one of the most humiliating defeats of his career.
Biles, meanwhile, will now have three more opportunities to add to her gold medal tally.
The next women's gymnastics event is the vault final on Saturday, where Biles, who is considered one the top vaulters in the world, will be a leading contender to win gold.
She'll also be among the favorites to win the beam and floor finals on Monday, which could cap off a truly historic Games for the American.
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