Ruby Pass’ Olympic debut has been a momentous experience and is one that she is unlikely to forget.
At just 17, Ruby has become the youngest Australian to feature in an Olympic All-Around Final since Sydney 2000, and the first since London 2012.
Her score of 53.798 saw Ruby finish the night in 13th, an historic feat itself and the best result for an Australian since Beijing 2008.
“It’s incredible, it feels a bit surreal at the moment,” Ruby said. “Hopefully when I go back home, it will all have settled in.”
It was in front of a packed stadium and with applause and cheers ringing from the rafters that Ruby’s dazzling form on her Olympic debut continued.
Opening her competition on Uneven Bars, her handstands and clean lines were on display to earn a score of 13.733, while a confident Beam routine received a 13.466.
Ruby finished her campaign with sky high tumbles on Floor to score a 12.966, while a well-executed yurchenko double twist on Vault completed her night, producing a 13.633.
“I felt pretty proud, especially after I crunched my ankle on vault, to get back out there, and to finish on a high was really good,” she said.
Simone Biles (USA) further cemented her status as the most decorated US gymnast, winning the All-Around title with a score of 59.131, despite an error early in the night on Uneven Bars.
She was joined on the podium by Rebeca Andrade (BRA), who took home silver with a score of 57.932, while Sunisa Lee (USA) claimed bronze with 56.465.
The gymnastics action continues when Bercy Arena hosts the intensive one-day Trampoline Gymnastics competition on Friday 2 August.
17-year-old Brock Batty will make history as the youngest trampolinist to compete in an Olympic Games when he takes to the floor for his qualifying competition at 2am AEST (Saturday 3 August).
Zoe Lorenzin
